THE  UNIVERSITY 


OF  ILLINOIS 


LIBRARY 

X 

We 


ILLINOIS 

smm 


» 


ESSAYS, 


Itteravp,  ittotal  $  Pjilofopfitcal 


Br  BENJAMIN  R  USH,  M.  D. 


/ 

AND  PROFESSOR  OF  THE  INSTITUTES  OF  MEDICINE 

AND  CLINICAL  PRACTICE 


IN  THE 


Univerfity  of  Pennfylvania. 


BfB  CO  P+ 


Pljifcmelpljia ; 

PRINTED  BT  THOMAS  &  SAMUEL  F.  BRADFORD , 
N°.  8,  SOUTH  FRONT  STREET. 

1798. 


I 


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J 


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OF  FRATERNAL  AFFECTION, 

. l 

'  i 

THE  FOLLOWING  ESSAYS  ARE  INSCRIBED  T$ 


JACOB  RUSH, 

V  , 

Judge  of  the  Third  Diftrift  of  Penn  fy  lvar.ia. 


By  his  Friend 
And  Brother, 

THE  AUTHOR. 

I  , 


January  g>  17  98* 


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■V  . 


J  V:  ’ 


PREFACE. 


Most  of  the  following  EiTays  were 
publifhed  in  the  Mufeum,  and  Columbi¬ 
an  Magazine,  in  this  City,  foon  after 
the  end  of  the  revolutionary  war  in  the 
United  States.  A  few  of  them  made 
their  firft  appearance  in  pamphlets.  They 
are  now  publifhed  in  a  fingle  volume,  at 
the  requeft  of  feveral  friends,  and  with 
a  view  of  promoting  the  ends  at  firft  con¬ 
templated  by  them.  Two  of  the  EiTays, 
viz:  that  upon  the  ufe  of  Tobacco,  and  the 
account  of  remarkable  circumftances  in  the 
conftitution  and  life  of  Ann  Woods,  are 
now  fubmitted  for  the  firft  time  to  the  eye 
of  the  public.  The  author  has  omitted  in 
this  collection  two  pamphlets  which  he 
publifhed  in  the  year  1772,  upon  the  flave- 
ry  of  the  Negroes,  becaufe  he  conceived 
the  objcCt  of  them  had  been  in  part  aecom- 


PREFACE. 


plifhed,  and  becaufe  the  Citizens  of  the 
United  States  have  (ince  that  time  been  fur- 

nilhed  from  Great  Britain  and  other  coun- 

% 

tries,  with  numerous  tradls  upon  that  fub- 
jedf,  more  calculated  to  complete  the  effe& 
intended  by  the  author,  than  his  early  pub¬ 
lications. 

« 

BENJAMIN  RUSH. 

Philadelphia  y  Jan,  9,  179&. 


i  4 


/ 


i 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


A 


Page 


PLAN  for  eftablilhing  Public  Schools  in  Pennfylvanla,  and 
for  conducing  Education  agreeably  to  a  Republican  form  of  Go¬ 
vernment.  Addrefled  lo  the  Legiflature  and  Citizens  of  Pcnn- 
fylvania,  in  the  year  17S6,  7 

Of  the  mode  of  Education  proper  in  a  Republic,  i 

Obfervations  upon  the  ftudy  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages,  as 
a  branch  of  liberal  Education,  with  hints  of  a  plan  of  liberal 
Inftru&ion,  without  them,  accomodated  to  the  prefent  ftate  of 
fcciety,  manners  and  government  in  the  United  States,  ■%? 

Thoughts  upon  the  amufements  and  puniihments,  which  are  proper 
for  Schools,  57 

Thoughts  upon  Female  Education,  accomodated  to  the  prefent  Rate 
of  fociety,  manners  and  government,  in  the  United  States  of 
America,  7^ 

A  defence  of  the  Bible  as  a  School  Book,  ,  93 

An  addrefs  to  the  Miniftcrs  of  the  Gofpel  of  every  denomination  in 
the  United  States  upon  fubje&s  interelling  to  morals,  1 14 

An  inquiry  into  the  confiftency  of  Oaths  with  Chriftianity,  135 

•  I 

An  enquiry  into  the  Effe&s  of  Public  Puniihments  upon  Criminals, 
and  upon  Society,  i^S 

An  enquiry  into  the  confiftcncy  of  the  Punifhmcnt  of  Murder  by 
Death,  with  Reafon  and  Revelation,  164 

A  plan  of  a  Peace  Office  for  the  United  States,  183 

Information  to  Europeans  who  are  difpofed  to  migrate  to  the  United 
States  of  America,  1S9' 


f 


4 


TABLE  O  F  CONTENTS. 


An  Account  of  the  Progrefs  of  Population,  Agriculture,  Manners* 

'and  Government,  in  Pennfylvania.  2,13 

V 

An  Account  of  the  manners,  of  the  German  Inhabitants  of  Pennfyl¬ 
vania,  226 

Thoughts  on  common  fenfe,  249 

An  Account  of  the  Vices  peculiar  to  the  Indians  of  North  America,  257 

Gbfervations  upon  the  influence  of  the  Habitual  ufe  of  Tobacco 
upon  Health,  Morals,  and  Property,  ‘  *  263 

An  account  of  the  Sugar  Maple  Tree  of  the  United  States,  27  5 

An  account  of  the  life  and  death  of  Edward  Drinker,  who  died  on 
the  17  of  November,  17S2,  in  the  103  year  of  hi^  age,  295 

Remarkable  circumftances  in  the  confutation  and  life  of  Ann 
Woods,  an  old  woman  of  96  years  of  age,  _  301 

Eicgraphical  Anecdotes  of  Benjamin  Lay,  305 

Biographical  Anecdotes  of  Anthony  Benezet,  311 

Paradife  of  Negro  Slaves — a  dream,  305 

Eulogium  upon  Dr.  William  Cullen,  321. 

Eulogium  upon  David  Rittenhoufe, 


34-3 


©Taps, 


LITERARY,  MORAL,  AND  PHILOSOPHICAL. 


- - — . 


A  ELAN  F OR  ESTABLISHING  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS  Ilf 
PENNSYLVANIA,  AND  FOR  CONDUCTING  EDUCA¬ 
TION  AGREEABLY  TO  A  REPUBLICAN  FORM  OF  GO¬ 
VERNMENT.  ADDRESSED  TO  THE  LEGISLATURE 
AND  CITIZENS  OF  PENNSYLV AN  I  A,  IN  THt 
YEAR  17  86. 


BEFORE  I  proceed  to  the  fubje£t  of  this  cf- 
fay,  I  (hall  point  out,  in  a  few  words,  the 
influence  and  advantages  of  learning  upon  mankind. 


I.  It  is  friendly  to  religion,  inafmuch  as  it  aflifts  in 
removing  prejudice,  fuperftition  and  enthuflafm,  in 
promoting  juft  notions  of  the  Deity,  and  in  enlarging 

#  V 

our  knowledge  of  his  works. 


II.  It  is  favourable  to  liberty.  Freedom  can  exifl 
only  in  the  fociety  of  knowledge.  Without  learning, 

v 

men  are  incapable  of  knowing  their  rights,  and  where 
learning  is  confined  to  a  few  people,  liberty  can  be 
neither  equal  nor  univerfal. 


B 


« 


\ 


f 


£  A  PLAN  FOR  ESTABLISHING  PUBLIC 

v:  f  r  +  *  :  :  S 

III.  It  promotes  juft  ideas  of  laws  and  govern- 

*  .  t 

ment.  (f  When  the  clouds  of  ignorance  are  dif- 

.  v  ••  * 

pelled  (fays  the  Marquis  of  Beccaria)  by  the  radiance 
of  knowledge,  power  trembles,  but  the  authority  of 
laws  remains  immoveable.” 

IV.  It  is  friendly  to  manners.  Learning  in  all 
countries,  promotes  civilization,  and  the  pleafures  of 
fociety  and  converfation. 

;  *  «  r  '  •  i'  | 

V.  It  promotes  agriculture,  the  great  bafis  of  na¬ 
tional  wealth  and  happinefs.  Agriculture  is  as  much 
a  fcicnce  as  hydraulics,  or  optics,  and  has  been  equally 
indebted  to  the  experiments  and  refearches  of  learned 
men.  The  highly  cultivated  ftate,  and  the  immenfe 

4  •  *  j 

profits  of  the  farms  in  England,  are  derived  wholly 
from  the  patronage  which  agriculture  has  received 

•  ...  ;  f .  *  j 

in  that  country,  from  learned  men  and  learned  focieties. 

VI.  Manufactures  of  all  kinds  owe  their  perfection 
chiefly  to  learning — hence  the  nations  of  Europe 
advance  in  manufactures,  knowledge,  and  com¬ 
merce,  only  in  proportion  as  they  cultivate  the  arts 
and  fciences. 

For  the  purpofe  of  diffufing  knowledge  through 
every  part  of  the  ftate,  I  beg  leave  to  propofe  the 

following  fimple  plan. 

I.  Let  there  be  one  univerfity  in  the  ftate,  and  let 
this  be  efublifhed  in  the  capital.  Let  law,  phyfic, 
divifiity,  the  law  of  nature  and  nations,  oeconomy,  &c. 
be  taught  in  it  by  public  leCtures  in  the  winter  feafon5 


SCHOOLS  IN  PENNSYLVANIA.  3 

after  the  manner  of  the  European  univerfities,  and  let  the' 
profeflors  receive  fuch  falaries  from  the  ftate  as  will 
enable  them  to  deliver  their  lectures  at  a  moderate  price. 

II.  Let  there  be  four  colleges.  One  in  Philadelphia  j 
one  at  Carlifle  j  a  third,  for  the  benefit  of  our  German 
fellow  citizens,  at  Lancafter  ;  and  a  fourth,  fome 
years  hence  at  Pittfburg.  In  thefe  colleges,  let  young 
men  be  inftrudted  in  mathematics  and  in  the  higher 
branches  of  fcience,  in  the  fame  manner  that  they  are 
now  taught  in  our  American  colleges.  After  they 
have  received  a  teftimonial  from  one  of  thefe  colleges, 
let  them,  if  they  can  afford  it,  complete  their  ftudies 
by  fpending  a  feafon  or  two  in  attending  the  lectures 
in  the  univerfity.  I  prefer  four  colleges  in  the  ftate 
to  one  or  two,  for  there  is  a  certain  fize  of  colleges  as" 
there  is  of  towns  and  armies,  that  is  moft  favourable 
to  morals  and  good  government.  Oxford  and  Cam¬ 
bridge  in  England  are  the  feats  of  difiipation,  while 
the  more  numerous,  and  lefs  crouded  univerfities  and 
colleges  in  Scotland,  are  remarkable  for  the  order, 
diligence,  and  decent  behaviour  of  their  ftudents. 

III.  Let  there  be  free  fchools  eftablifhed  in  every 
townfhip,  or  in  diftridts  confi fling  of  one  hundred 
families.  In  thefe  fchools  let  children  be  taught  to 
read  and  write  the  Englifh  and  German  languages, 
and  the  ufe  of  figures.  Such  of  them  as  have  parents 
that  can  afford  to  fend  them  from  home,  and  are 
difpofed  to  extend  their  educations,  may  remove  their 
children  from  the  free  fchool  to  one  of  the  colleges. 


4 


A  PLAN  FOR  ESTABLISHING  PUBLIC 


By  this  plan  the  whole  Hate  will  be  tied  together 
by  one  fyftem  of  education.  The  univerfity  will  in 
time  furnifli  mailers  for  the  colleges,  and  the 
colleges  will  furnifli  mailers  for  the  free  fchools, 
while  the  free  fchools,  in  their  turns,  will  fupply  the 
colleges  and  the  univerfity  with  fcholars,  Iludents  and 
pupils.  The  fame  fyllems  of  grammar,  oratory  and 
philofophy,  will  be  taught  in  every  part  of  the  Hate, 
and  the  literary  features  of  Pennfylvania  will  thus  defig- 
nate  one  great,  and  equally  enlightened  family. 

But,  how  fiiall  we  bear  the  expenfe  of  thefc 

§ 

literary  inllitutions  ? - 1  anfwer — Thefe  inllitutions 

will  lejfen  our  taxes.  They  will  enlighten  us  in  the 
great  bufinefs  of  finance — they  will  teach  us  to  en- 
creafe  the  ability  of  the  Hate  to  fupport  government, 
by  encreafing  the  profits  of  agriculture,  and  by  pro¬ 
moting  manufactures.  They  will  teach  us  all  the 
modern  improvements  and  advantages  of  inland  navi¬ 
gation.  They  will  defend  us  from  hafty  and 
expen  five  experiment  in  government,  by  unfolding  to 
us  the  experience  and  folly  of  paft  ages,  and  thus, 
inftead  of  adding  to  our  taxes  and  debts,  they  will 
furnifli  us  with  the  true  fecret  of  leflening  and 
difeharging  both  of  them. 

But,  fhall  the  ellates  of  orphans,  batchelors  and 
perfons  who  have  no  children,  be  taxed  to  pay  for 
the  fupport  of  fchools  from  which  they  can  derive 
no  benefit  ?  I  anfwer  in  the  affirmative,  to  the  firlt 


SCHOOLS  IN  PENNSYLVANIA*  $ 

t. 

part  of  the  objection,  and  I  deny  the  truth  of  the 
latter  part  of  it.  Every  member  of  the  community 
is  interefled  in  the  propagation  of  virtue  and 
knowledge  in  the  {fate.  But  I  will  go  further, 
and  add,  it  will  be  true  ceconomy  in  individuals 
-  to  fupport  public  fchools.  The  batchelor  will  in 
time  fave  his  tax  for  this  purpofe,  by  being  able  to 
ileep  with  fewer  bolts  and  locks  to  his  doors — the 
eflates  of  orphans  will  in  lime  be  benefited,  by  being 
protefled  from  the  ravages  of  unprincipled  and  idle 
boys,  and  the  children  of  wealthy  parents  will  be 
lefs  tempted,  by  bad  company,  to  extravagance. 
Fewer  pillories  and  whipping  polls,  and  fmaller  goals, 
with  their  ufual  expenfes  and  taxes,  will  be  ne- 
ceffary  when  our  youth  are  properly  educated,  than 
at  prefent ;  I  believe  it  could  be  proved,  that  the 
expenes  of  confining,  trying  and  executing  criminals, 
amount  every  year,  in  moft  of  the  counties,  to  more 
money  than  would  be  fufficient  to  maintain  all  the 
fchools  that  would  be  necefiary  in  each  county. 
The  confeflions  of  thefe  criminals  generally  fhow  us, 
that  their  vices  and  punifhments  are  the  fatal  confe- 
quences  of  the  want  of  a  proper  education  in  early 
life. 

I  fubmit  thefe  detached  hints  to  the  confideration 
of  the  legiflature  and  of  the  citizens  of  Penfylvania. 
The  plan  for  the  free  fchools  is  taken  chiefly  from 
the  plans  which  have  long  been  ufed  with  fuccefs  in 


I 


6 


©F  THE  MODE  OF  EDUCATION' 


Scotland,  and  in  the  eaftern  Hates  *  of  America, 
where  the  influence  of  learning,  in  promoting  religion, 
morals,  manners,  and  good  government,  has  never 
been  exceeded  in  any  country. 

The  manner  in  which  thefe  fchools  fliould  be  fup- 
ported  and  governed — the  modes  of  determining  the 
characters  and  qualifications  of  fchoolmafters,  and  the 
arrangement  of  families  in  each  diftrict,  fo  that  children 
of  the  fame  religious  feel  and  nation,  may  be  educa- 
as  much  as  poflible  together,  will  form  a  proper  part 
of  a  law  for  the  eftablifhment  of  fchools,  and  there¬ 
fore  does  not  come  within  the  limits  of  this  plan. 


OF  THE  MODE  OF  EDUCATION  PROPER. 

IN  A  REPUBLIC. 

% 

THE  bufinefs  of  education  has  acquired  a 
new  complexion  by  the  independence  of 
our  country.  The  form  of  government  we  have 
aflumed,  has  created  a  new  clafs  of  duties  to  every 
American.  It  becomes  us,  therefore,  to  examine  our 
former  habits  upon  this  fubje£l,  and  in  laying  the 

*  Ihire  are  600  of  thefe  fchools  in  the  fmall  ftate  of  Connecticut, 
wh  c  1  at  this  time  have  in  them  25,  000  fcholars. 


PROPER  IN  A  REPUBLIC 


* 

foundations  for  nurferies  of  wife  and  good  men,  to 
adapt  our  modes  of  teaching  to  the  peculiar  form  of 
our  government. 

The  firfl  remark  that  I  fhall  make  upon  this  fubje£t 
is,  that  an  education  in  our  own,  is  to  be  preferred  to 
an  education  in  a  foreign  country.  The  principle  of 
patriotifm  ftands  in  need  of  the  reinforcement  of 
prejudice,  and  it  is  well  known  that  our  ftrongeft 
prejudices  in  favour  of  our  country  are  formed  in  the 
firft  one  and  twenty  years  of  our  lives.  The  policy  of 

the  Lacedemonians  is  well  worthy  of  our  imitation. 

\  „  : 

When  Antipater  demanded  fifty  of  their  children  as 
lioftages  for  the  fulfillment  of  a  diftant  engagement, 
thofe  wife  republicans  refufed  to  comply  with  his  de¬ 
mand,  but  readily  offered  him  double  the  number  of 

*  •  *  *  • 

their  adult  citizens,  whofe  habits  and  prejudices  could 
not  be  fhaken  by  refiding  in  a  foreign  country.  Faffing 

by,  in  this  place,  the  advantages  -to  the  community 

«  • 

from  the  early  attachment  of  youth  to  the  laws  and 
conflitution  of  their  country,  I  fhall  only  remark,  that 

* 

young  men  who  have  trodden  the  paths  of  fciencc 

r  •  4  _  t  . :  ,  j. 

together,  or  have  joined  in  the  fame  fports,  whether  of 

» 

fwimming,  fcating,  fifhing,  or  hunting,  generally  feel, 

•  ■  j  ,  t 

thro’  life,  fuch  ties  to  each  other,  as  add  greatly  to  the 
obligations  of  mutual  benevolence. 

0 

l  ^ 

I  conceive  the  education  of  our  youth  in  this  country 
to  be  peculiarly  neceffary  in  Pennfylvania,  while  our 
citizens  are  compofed  of  the  natives  of  fo  many  diffe- 

f  **  % 

rent  kingdoms  in  Europe.  Our  fchools  of  learning, . 


S  OF  THE  MODE  OF  EDUCATION 

by  producing  one  general,  and  uniform  fyftem  of 
education,  will  render  the  mafs  of  the  people  more 
homogeneous,  and  thereby  fit  them  more  eafily  for 
uniform  and  peaceable  government. 

I  proceed  in  the  next  place,  to  enquire,  what  mode 
of  education  we  fhall  adopt  fo  as  to  fecure  to  the  ftate 
all  the  advantages  that  are  to  be  derived  from  the  proper 
inftrudlion  of  youth  j  and  here  I  beg  leave  to  remark, 
that  the  only  foundation  for  a  ufeful  education  in  a 

republic  is  to  be  laid  in  Religion.  Without  this; 

% 

there  can  be  no  virtue,  and  without  virtue  there  can  be 
no  liberty,  and  liberty  is  the  objedl  and  life  of  all 
republican  governments. 

Such  is  my  veneration  for  every  religion  that  reveals 
the  attributes  of  the  Deity,  or  a  future  ftate  of  rewards 
and  punilhments,  that  I  had  rather  fee  the  opinions  of 
Confucius  or  Mahomed  inculcated  upon  our  youth, 
than  fee  them  grow  up  wrholly  devoid  of  a  fyftem  of 
religious  principles.  But  the  religion  I  mean  to 
recommend  in  this  place,  is  that  of  the  New  Tefta- 
ment. 

It  is  foreign  to  my  purpofe  to  hint  at  the  arguments 
which  eftablifh  the  truth  of  the  Chriftian  revelation. 
My  only  bufinefs  is  to  declare,  that  all  its  doctrines  and 
precepts  are  calculated  to  promote  the  happinefs  of 
fociety,  and  the  fafety  and  well  being  of  civil  govern¬ 
ment.  A  Chriftian  cannot  fail  of  being  a  republican. 
The  kiftory  of  the  creation  of  man,  and  of  the  relation 


/•  >> 


-f.  V  '  '  .  V*  •  ' 

PROPER  IN  A  REPUBLIC 


'9 


A.  .  • 

of  our  fpecies  to  each  other  by  birth,  which  is  recorded 
in  the  Old  Teftament,  is  the  beft  refutation  that  can 

.  -  *  *  ■  i 1  ■ 

be  given  to  the  divine  right  of  kings,  and  the  ftrongeft 
argument  that  can  be  ufed  in  favor  of  the  original  and 
natural  equality  of  all  mankind.  A  Chriftian,  I  fay 
again,  cannot  fail  of  being  a  republican,  for  every 
precept  of  the  Gofpel  inculcates  thofe  degrees  of  hu¬ 
mility,  felf-denial,  and  brotherly  kindnefs,  which  are 
diredlly  oppofed  to.  the  pride  of  monarchy  and  the 

•  ■  i  #•  • 

pageantry  of  a  court.  A  Chriftian  cannot  fail  of  being 
ufefui  to  the  republic,  for  his  religion  teacheth  him, 
that  no  man  u  liveth  to  himfelf.”  *  And  lallly,  a 
Chriftian  cannot  fail  of  being  wholly  inoffenfive,  for 
his  religion  teacheth  him,  in  all  things  to  do  to  others 
what  he  would  wifh,  in  like  circumftances,  they  fhould 
do  to  him. 

*  y.  ~  .  •  '  r  r  .c  . 

I  am  aware  that  I  diffent  from  one  of  thofe  paradox- 
ical  opinions  with  which  modern  times  abound;  and 
that  it  is  improper  to  fill  the  minds  of  youth  vrith 
religious  prejudices  of  any  kind,  and  that  they  fhould 
be  left  to  choofe  their  own  principles,  after  they 
have  arrived  at  an  age  in  which  they  are  capable  of 
judging  for  themfelves.  Could  we  preferve  the  mind 
in  childhood  and  youth  a  perfect  blank,  this  plan  of 
education  would  have  more  to  recommend  it;  but  this 

we  know  to  be  impoftible.  The  human  mind  runs  as 

»  k 

naturally  into  principles  as  it  does  after  fadts.  It 

■  #  #  •  i 

fubmits  with  difficulty  to  thofe  reftraints  or  partial 

C 


10 


0F  THE  MODE  OF  EDUCATION 


difcoveries  which  are  impofed  upon  it  in  the  infancy  of 

X 

reafon.  Hence  the  impatience  of  children  to  be  in¬ 
formed  upon  all  fubjedls  that  relate  to  the  invifible 
world.  But  I  beg  leave  to  afk,  why  fhould  we  puriue 
a  different  plan  of  education  with  refpedl  to  religion, 
from  that  which  we  purfue  in  teaching  the  arts  and 
fciences  ?  Do  we  leave  our  youth  to  acquire  fyflems 
of  geography,  philofophy,  or  politics,  till  they  have 
arrived  at  an  age  in  which  they  are  capable  of  judging 
for  themfelves  ?  We  do  not.  I  claim  no  more  then 
for  religion,  than  for  the  other  fciences,  and  I  add  fur¬ 
ther,  that  if  our  youth  are  dilpofed  after  they  are  of 
age  to  think  for  themfelves,  a  knowledge  of  one  fyftem, 
will  be  the  belt  means  of  conducting  them  in  a  free 
enquiry  into  other  fyflems  of  religion,  juft  as  an 
acquaintance  with  one  fyftem  of  philofophy  is  the  beft 
introduction  to  the  ftudy  of  all  the  other  fyflems  in  the 
world. 

Next  to  the  duty  which  young  men  owe  to  their 
Creator,  I  with  to  fee  a  regard  to  their  country,  incul¬ 
cated  upon  them.  When  the  Duke  of  Sully  became 
prime  minifler  to  Henry  the  IVth  of  France,  the  firft 
thing  he  did,  he  tells  us,  “  Was  to  fubdue  and  forget 
“  his  own  heart.”  The  fame  duty  is  incumbent  upon 
every  citizen  of  a  republic.  Our  country  includes 
family,  friends  and  property,  and  fhould  be  preferred 
to  them  all.  Let  our  pupil  be  taught  that  he  does 
not  belong  to  himfelf,  but  that  he  is  public  property. 
Let  him  be  taught  to  love  his  family,  but  let  him  be 


PROPER  IN  A  REPUBLIC.  II 

taught, at  the  fame  time,  that  he  mult  forfake,  and  even 
forget  them;  when  the  welfare  of  his  country  requires 
it.  He  mud  watch  for  the  date,  as  if  its  liberties 
depended  upon  his  vigilance  alone,  but  he  mud  do  this 
in  luch  a  manner  as  not  to  defraud  his  creditors,  or 
neglect  his  family.  He  mud  love  private  life,  but  he 
mud  decline  no  dation,  however  public  or  refponfible 
it  may  be,  when  called  to  it  by  the  fuffrages  of  his 
fellow  citizens.  He  mud  love  popularity,  but  he  mud 
defpife  it  when  fet  in  competition  with  the  didiates  of 
his  judgement,  or  the  real  intered  of  his  country.  He 
mud  love  character,  and  have  a  due  fenfe  of  injuries, 
but  he  mud  be  taught  to  appeal  only  to  the  laws  of 
the  date,  to  defend  the  one,  and  punifh  the  other.  He 
mud  love  family  honour,  but  he  mud  be  taught  that 
neither  the  rank  nor  antiquity  of  his  ancedors,  can 
command  refpedt,  without  perfonal  merit.  He  mud 
avoid  neutrality  in  all  quedions  that  divide  the  date, 
but  he  mud  {him  the  rage,  and  acrimony  of  party  fpir- 
it.  He  mud  be  taught  to  love  his  fellow  creatures  in 
every  part  of  the  world,  but  he  mud  cheridi  with  a 
more  intenfe  and  peculiar  affedlion,  the  citizens  of 
Pennfylvania  and  of  the  United  States.  1  do  not  wifli 
to  fee  our  youth  educated  with  a  fingle  prejudice  againd 
any  nation  or  country  ;  but  we  impofe  a  tafk  upon 
human  nature,  repugnant  alike  to  reafon,  revelation 
and  the  ordinary  dimenfions  of  the  human  heart,  when 
we  require  him  to  embrace,  with  equal  affedlion,  the 
whole  family  of  mankind.  He  mud  be  taught  to  am  ad 


52 


OF  THE  MODE  OF  EDUCATION 


wealth,  but  it  mud  be  only  to  encreafe  his  power  of 

-contributing  to  the  wants  and  demands  of  the  flate. 

'  * 

He  mull  be  indulged  occafionally  in  amufements,  but 
he  mud  be  taught  that  ftudy  and  bufinefs  fhould  be 
his  principal  purfuits  in  life.  Above  all  he  mud  love 
life,  and  endeavour  to  acquire  as  many  of  its  convenien- 

^  .  .  i  »  w  «  *  '  .  ■  *  ■ 

ces  as  poffible  by  induftry  a nd  economy,  but  he  mud 
be  taught  that  this  life  “  is  not  his  own,”  when  the 
fafety  cf  his  country  requires  it.  Thefe  are  praCtica- 
ble  lefions,  and  the  hiftory  of  the  commonwealths  of 
Greece  and  Rome  (how,  that  human  nature,  without 

i  '  ’ 

the  aids  of  Chriftianity,  has  attained  thefe  degrees  of 
perfection. 

While  we  inculcate  thefe  republican  duties  upon  our 
pupil,  we  mult  not  negleCt,  at  the  fame  time,  to  infpire 
him  with  republican  principles.  He  mud  be  taught 

-  •  •  *  %  r  ,  . 

that  there  can  be  no  durable  liberty  but  in  a  republic, 

>  *  .  ’  '  .  • 

and  that  government,  like  all  other  fciences,  is  of  a 

....  ’  / 

progrelhve  nature.  The  chains  which  have  bound  this 

f  .  1  *  -i  ■  ' 

fcience  in  Europe  are  happily  unloofed  in  America. 

.**  > 

Here  it  is  open  to  inveftigation  and  improvement. 

t  •  •  ' 

While  philofophy  has  protected  us  by  its  difcoveries 
from  a  thoufand  natural  evils,  government  has  unhap- 

*  .v  . 

pily  followed  with  an  unequal  pace.  It  would  be  to 
difhonour  human  genius, only  to  name  the  many  defects 
which  ft  ill  exift  in  the  belt  fyftems  of  legiflation.  We 

t  .  %  f*  '  \ 

daily  fee  matter  of  a  periihable  nature  rendered 
durable  by  certain  chemical  operations.  In  like  man¬ 
ner,  I  conceive,  that  it  is  poffible  to  combine  power  in 


PROPER  IN  A  REPUBLIC. 


*3 

fuch  a  way  as  not  only  to  encreafe  the  happinefs, 
but  to  promote  the  duration  of  republican  forms  of 
government  far  beyond  the  terms  limited  for  them  by 
hiftory,  or  the  common  opinions  of  mankind. 

To  afTift  in  rendering  religious,  moral  and  political 
inftrudtion  more  effectual  upon  the  minds  of  our  youth, 
it  will  be  necefiary  to  fubjsdt  their  bodies  to  phyfical  dis¬ 
cipline.  To  obviate  the  inconveniences  of  their 
ftudious  and  fedentary  mode  of  life,  they  fhould  live 
upon  a  temperate  diet,  confifting  chiefly  of  broths, 
milk  and  vegetables.  The  black  broth  of  Sparta,  and 
the  barley  broth  of  Scotland,  have  been  alike  celebrated 
for  their  beneficial  effects  upon  the  minds  of  young 
people.  They  fhould  avoid  tailing  Spirituous  liquors. 
They  fhould  alfo  be  accuftomed  occafionally  to  work 
with  their  hands,  in  the  intervals  of  Study,  and  in  the 
bufy  feafons  of  the  year  in  the  country.  Moderate 
fieep,  filence,  occafional  folitude  and  cleanlinefs,  fhould 

,  '  f  *  * 

be  inculcated  upon  them,  and  the  utmofl  advantage 
fhould  be  taken  of  a  proper  diredlion  of  thofe  great 
principles  in  human  condudt,- — fenfibility,  habit, 
imitations  and  aflociation. 

I*;  •'  t  ‘S  • 

The  influence  of  thefe  phyfical  caufes  will  be  power¬ 
ful  upon  the  intellects,  as  well  as  upon  the  principles 
and  morals  of  young  people. 

■  • 

To  thofe  who  have  ftudied  human  nature,  it  will 
not  appear  paradoxical  to  recommend,  in  this  eflay,  a 
particular  attention  to  vocal  mufic.  Its  mechanical 

*4  »  .  «  -  '* 

> 


/  .  'i  ' 

••  ,  /  %  m 

14  OF  THE  MODE  OF  EDUCATION 

effects  in  civilizing  the  mind,  and  thereby  preparing  it 
for  the  influence  of  religion  and  government,  have  been 
fo  often  felt  and  recorded,  that  it  will  be  unneceffary 
to  mention  facts  in  favour  of  its  ufefulnefs,  in  order  to 
excite  a  proper  attention  to  it. 

I  cannot  help  bearing  a  teftimony,  in  this  place, 
againft  the  cuftom,  which  prevails  in  fome  parts  of 
America,  (but  which  is  daily  falling  into  difufe  in 
Europe)  of  crouding  boys  together  under  one  roof  for 
the  purpofe  of  education.  The  practice  is  the  gloomy 
remains  of  monkifh  ignorance,  and  is  as  unfavorable  to 
the  improvements  of  the  mind  in  ufeful  learning,  as 
monafteries  are  to  the  fpirit  of  religion.  I  grant  this 
mode  of  fecluding  boys  from  the  intercourfe  of  private 
families,  has  a  tendency  to  make  them  fcholars,  but  our 
bufinefs  is  to  make  them  men,  citizens  and  chriftians. 
The  vices  of  young  people  are  generally  learned  from 
each  other.  The  vices  of  adults  feldcm  infeft 
them.  By  feparating  them  from  each  other,  therefore, 
in  their  hours  of  relaxation  fromftudy,  we  fecure  their 
morals  from  a  principal  fource  of  corruption,  while  we 
improve  their  manners,  by  fubjecting  them  to  thofe 
reftraints  which  the  difference  of  age  and  fex,  naturally 
produce  in  private  families. 

From  the  obfervations  that  have  been  made  it  is  plain, 
that  I  confider  it  is  poffible  to  convert  men  into  repub¬ 
lican  machines.  This  mud  be  done,  if  we  expe£t  them 
to  perform  their  parts  properly,  in  the  groat  machine 


PROPER  IN  A  REPUBLIC. 


*5 


of  the  government  of  the  ftate.  That  republic  is  fophif- 
ticated  with  monarchy  or  ariftrocracy  that  does  not 
revolve  upon  the  wills  of  the  people,  and  thefe  mud  be 
fitted  to  each  other  by  means  of  education  before  they 
can  be  made  to  produce  regularity  and  unifon  in  go¬ 
vernment. 

Having  pointed  out  thofe  general  principles,  which 
fhould  be  inculcated  alike  in  alt  the  fchools  of  the  ftate, 
I  proceed  now  to  make  a  few  remarks  upon  the  method 
of  conducing,  what  is  commonly  called,  a  liberal  or 
learned  education  in  a  republic. 

I  {hall  begin  this  part  of  my  fubje£t,  by  bearing  a 
teftimony  againft  the  common  pra£tice  of  attempting 
to  teach  boys  the  learned  languages,  and  the  arts  and 
fciences  too  early  in  life.  The  firft  twelve  years  of 
life  are  barely  fufficient  to  inftruffc  a  boy  in  reading, 
writing  and  arithmetic.  With  thefe,  he  may  be  taught 
thofe  modern  languages  which  are  necefiary  for  him 
to  fpeak.  The  ftate  of  the  memory,  in  early  life,  is 
favorable  to  the  acquifition  of  languages,  efpeeially 

when  they  are  conveyed  to  the  mind,  through  the  ear. 

•  % 

It  is,  moreover,  in  early  life  only,  that  the  organs  of 
fpeech  yield  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  favour  the  juft 
pronounciation  of  foreign  languages. 

Too  much  pains  cannot  be  taken  to  teach  our 
youth  to  read  and  write  our  American  language  with 
propriety  and  elegance.  The  ftudy  of  the  Greek 
language  conftituted  a  material  part  of  the  literature 


1 6  or  THE  MODE  OF  EDUCATION 

•» 

of  the  Athenians,  hence  the  fublimity,  purity  and 
immortality  of  fo  many  of  their  writings.  The  ad¬ 
vantages  of  a  perfedt  knowledge  of  our  language  to 
young  men  intended  for  the  profeflions  of  law,  phyfic, 
or  divinity  are  too  obvious  to  be  mentioned,  but  in 
a  date  which  boafts  of  the  firft  commercial  city  in 
America,  I  wifh  to  fee  it  cultivated  by  young  men, 
who  are  intended  for  the  compting  houfe,  for  many 
fuch,  I  hope,  will  be  educated  in  our  colleges.  The 
time  is  pad  when  an  academical  education  was  thought 
to  be  unneceflary  to  qualify  a  young  man  for  merchan¬ 
dize.  I  conceive  no  profeffion  is  capable  of  receiv¬ 
ing  more  embellilhments  from  it.  The  French  and 

> 

German  languages  fhould  likewife  be  carefully  taught 
in  all  our  Colleges.  They  abound  with  ufeful  books 
upon  all  fubjedls.  So  important  and  neceffary  are 
thofe  languages,  that  a  degree  fhould  never  be  con¬ 
ferred  upon  a  young  man  who  cannot  fpeak  or 
tranilate  them. 


r 

Connected  with  the  ftudy  of  languages  is  the 
itudy  of  Eloquence.  It  is  well  known  how  great  a 
part  it  conftituted  of  the  Roman  education.  It  is 
the  firft  accomplishment  in  a  republic,  and  often  fets 
the  whole  machine  of  government  in  motion.  Let 
our  youth,  therefore,  be  inftrufted  in  this  art.  We 
do  not  extol  it  too  highly  /.when  we  attribute  as  much 
to  the  power  of  eloquence  as  to  the  f word,  in  bring¬ 
ing  about  the  American  revolution. 


/ 


I 


I  ,-y 

PROPER  IN  A  REPUBLIC  1 7 

With  the  ufual  arts  and  fciences  that  are  taught  in 

4 

our  American  colleges,  I  wifh  to  fee  a  regular  courfe 
of  lectures  given  upon  Hiflory  and  Chronology* 
The  fcience  of  government,  whether  it  related  to 

conftitutions  or  laws,  can  only  be  advanced  by  a  care- 

. 

ful  fele£tion  of  fa£ts;  and  thefe  are  to  be  found  chiefly 

in  hiilory.  Above  all,  let  our  youth  be  inftru£ted 

in  the  hiilory  of  the  ancient  republics,  and  the  pro- 

grefs  of  liberty  and  tyranny  in  the  different  {lares  of 

Europe.  I  wifh  likewife  to  fee  the  numerous  fadls 

that  relate  to  the  origin  and  prefent  ftate  of  commerce, 

together  with  the  nature  and  principles  of  Money, 

reduced  to  fucha  fyflem,  as  to  be  intelligible  and  a- 

creeable  to  a  young  man.  If  we  confider  the  com¬ 
et  J  o 

merce  of  our  metropolis  only  as  the  avenue  of  the 

wealth  of  rhe  ftate,  the  fludy  of  it  merits  a  place  in 

a  young  man’s  education  ;  but,  I  confider  commerce 

in  a  much  higher  light  when  I  recommend  the  fludy 

of  it  in  republican  feminaries.  I  view  it  as  the  be  ft 

fecurity  againft  the.  influence  of  hereditary  monopolies 

of  land,  and,  therefore,  the  fureft  protection  againft 

ariitocracy.  I  confider  its  effects  as  next  to  thofe 

of  religion  in  humanizing  mankind,  and  laftly,  I 

view  it  as  the  means  of  uniting  the  different  nations 

of  the  world  together  by  the  ties  of  mutual  wants 

and  obligations. 

© 

- . .  t  rp  '  .  i  :  • 

Chemiftry  by  unfolding  to  us  the  effects .  of  heat 

and  mixture,  enlarges  our  acquaintance  with  the 

*'  .  - 

wonders  of  nature  and  the  myftcries  of  art ;  hence 

D 


l8  ©F  THE  MODE  OF  EDUCATION 

it  1ms  become,  in  mod  of  the  univerfities  of  Europe, 
a  pieceflary  branch  of  a  gentleman’s  education.  In  a 
young  country,  where  improvements  in  agriculture  and 
manufactures  are  fo  much  to  be  de fired,  the  cultiva¬ 
tion  of  this  fcience,  which  explains  the  principles 
of  both  of  them,  (hould  be  confidered  as  an  objeCt 
of  the  utmoft  importance. 

Again,  let  your  youth  be  inftruCted  in  all  the 
means  of  promoting  national  profperity  and  inde¬ 
pendence,  whether  they  relate  to  improvements  in 
agriculture,  manufactures,  or  inland  navigation.  Let 
him  be  inftruCted  further  in  the  general  principles 

+  9  #  4  • 

of  legiflation,  whether  they  relate  to  revenue,  or  to 
the  prefervation  of  life,  liberty  or  property.  Let 
him  be  directed  frequently  to  attend  the  courts  of 
juft  ice,  where  he  will  have  the  bdt  opportunities- 
of  acquairing  habits  of  comparing,  and  arranging 
his  ideas  by  obferving  the  difcovery  of  truth,  in 
the  examination  of  witnefies,  and  where  he  will  hear 
the  laws  of  the  ftaie  explained,  with  all  the  advan¬ 
tages  of  that  fpecies  of  eloquence  which  belongs  to 
the  bar.  Of  fo  much  importance  do  I  conceive  it 
to  be,  to  a  young  man,  to  attend  occafionally  to  the 
deciftons  of  our  courts  of  law,  that  I  with  to  fee 
cur  colleges  eftablifhed,  only  in  county  towns. 

But  further,  confidering  the  nature  of  our  con¬ 
nection  with  the  United  States,  it  will  be  necefiary 
to  make  our  pupil  acquainted  with  all  the  prerogatives ' 


PROPER  IN  A  REPUBLIC. 


*9 


of  the  national  government.  Me  mud  be  inftru£ted 

/ 

in  the  nature  and  variety  of  treaties.  He  mud 
know  the  difference  in  the  powers  and  duties  of  the 
feveral  fpecies  of  ambaffadors.  He  muff  be  taught 
wherein  the  obligations  of  individuals  and  of  dates 
are  the  fame,  and  wherein  they  differ.  In  fhort,  he 
mud  accquire  a  general  knowledge  of  all  thofe  laws  and 
forms,  which  unite  the  fovereigns  of  the  earth,  or 
feparate  them  from  each  other. 

J  -  ,  r  |  •  A>  {  ♦  />S  •'  ,  , 

.  t.  .  k  l  «  ■  --  •»«»  « 

—  *  ' 

I  beg  pardon  for  having  delayed  fo  long  to  fay 
any  thing  of  the  feparate  and  peculiar  mode  of 
education  proper  for  women  in  a  republic.  I  am 
fenfible  that  they  mud  concur  in  all  our  plans  of 
of  education  for  young  men,  or  no  laws  will  eve^ 
render  them  effectual.  To  qualify  our  women  for 

'  V 

this  purpofe,  they  fhould  not  only  be  indru£ted  in 
the  ufual  branches  of  female  education,  but  they 
fhould  be  taught  the  principles  of  liberty  and  go¬ 
vernment  ;  and  the  obligations  of  patriotifm  fhould 
be  inculcated  upon  them.  The  opinions  and  conduct 
of  men  are  often  regulated  by  the  women  in  the 
mod  arduous  enterprizes  of  life  ;  and  their  approbation 
is  frequently  the  principal  rev/ard  of  the  hero’s 
dangers,  and  the  patriot’s  toils.  Befides,  the  fird 
impreffions  upon  the  minds  of  children  are  gene- 
raly  derived  from  the  women.  Of  how  much  con- 
fequence,  therefore,  is  it  in  a  republic,  that  they 
fhould  think  judly  upon  the  great  fubjects  of  liberty 
and  government ! 


20  OF  THE  MODE  OF  EDUCATION,  &C. 

1  | 

The  complaints  that  have  been  made  againft  religion, 
liberty  and  learning,  have  been,  againft  each  of  them 
in  a  feparate  ftate.  Perhaps  like  certain  liquors, 
they  fhould  only  be  ufed  in  a  ftate  of  mixture. 
They  mutually  affift  in  correcting  the  abufes,  and 

in  improving  the  good  effects  of  each  other.  From 

✓ 

the  combined  and  reciprocal  influence  of  religion, 
liberty  and  learning  upon  the  morals,  manners  and 
knowledge  of  individuals,  of  thefe,  upon  govern¬ 
ment,  and  of  government,  upon  individuals,  it  is 

•  r  * 

impoflible  to  meafure  the  degrees  of  happinefs  and 
perfection  to  which  mankind  may  be  raifed.  For 
my  part,  I  can  form  no  ideas  of  the  golden  age,  fo 
much  celebrated  by  the  poets,  more  delightful,  than 
the  contemplation  of  that  happinefs  which  it  is  now 
in  Kthe  power  of  the  legiflature  of  Permfylvania  to 
confer  upon  her  citizens,  by  eftablifhing  proper  modes 
and  places  of  education  in  every  part  of  the  ftate. 


9 


Observations  upon  the  study  of  the  latin  and 

GREEK  LANGUAGES;  AS  A  BRANCH  OF  LIBERAL 
EDUCATION;  WITH  HINTS  OF  A  PLAN  OF  LIBERAL 
INSTRUCTION;  WITHOUT  THEM;  ACCOMMODATED 
TO  THE  PRESENT  STATE  OF  SOCIETY;  MANNERS; 
AND  GOVERNMENT  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


IT  requires  the  recolle&ion  of  efcapes  from  s. 
lion  and  a  bear,  to  encounter  the  flrong  and 
univerfai  prejudice,  in  favor  of  the  Latin  and  Greek 
languages,  as  a  neceflary  branch  of  liberal  education, 
if,  in  combating  this  formidable  enemy  of  human 
reafon,  I  fhouid  be  lefs  fuccesful  than  the  Hebrew 
{tripling  was  in  contending  with  the  giant  of  the 
Philiftines,  I  hope  it  will  be  aferibed  wholly  to  the 
want  of  fkill  to  direct  arguments,  which,  in  other 
hands,  would  lay  this  tyrant  in  the  dull. 

I  {hall  attempt  to  difeufs  this  queftion,  by  firft  deliv¬ 
ering  a  few  general  propofitions.  I  fhall  afterwards 
apply  thefe  propofitions,  and  anfwer  fuch  arguments  as 
are  ufually  urged  in  favor  of  the  Latin  and  Greek 
languages  as  neceffary  parts  of  an  academic  education. 

I.  The  great  defign  of  a  liberal  education  is,  to 
prepare  youth  for  ufefulnefs  here,  and  for  happinefs 
hereafter. 


It  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STUDY  OF  THE 

-  •  •»*•••#  msm  * 

II.  The  proper  time  for  acquiring  the  neceflary 
branches  of  knowledge  for  thefe  important  purpofes, 
is  in  the  firft  eighteen  years  of  life. 

III.  From  four  to  five  years  are  ufually  fpent 
in  acquiring  a  competent  knowledge  of  the  Latin 
and  Greek  languages. 

IV.  The  knowledge  of  things  always  preceeds  the 
knowledge  o£  words.  Children  difcover  the  truth 
of  this  obfervation  every  day.  They  know  all  the 
objects  around  them,  long  before  they  are  able  to 
call  them  by  their  proper  names,  or  even  to  artU 
culate  founds  of  any  kind.  It  is  fuppofed  that 
children  acquire  more  ideas  of  things  in  the  firft 
three  years  of  their  lives,  than  they  acquire  in  any 
thirty  years  afterwards. 

V.  The  acquifition  of  words  leflens  the  ability 

of  the  mind  to  acquire  ideas.  That  underftanding 
muft  have  uncommon  ftrength,  which  does  no{ 
contract  an  oblique  direction  by  being  employed 
four  or  five  years  in  learning  the  Latin  or  Greek 
languages.  .  r 

VI.  The  difficulty  of  acquiring  thofe  dead 
languages,  and  the  little  pleafure  which  accompanies 
the  knowledge  of  them  in  early  life,  occafion.  the 
principal  obftacles  to  teaching,  in  mafters,  and 
learning,  in  fcholars. 


•  LATIN  AX ID  GREEK  LANGUAGES.  2 3 

The  famous  Bulby  is  faid  to  have  died  of  (C  bad 
Latin that  is,  the  ungrammatical  verfions  of  his 
fcholars  broke  his  heart.  How  few  boys  relifli  Latin 
and  Greek  leffons !  The  pleafure  they  fometimes 
difcover  in  learning  them,  is  derived  either  from  the 
talcs  they  read,  or  from  a  competition,  which  awak- 

1 

ens  a  love  of  honour,  and  which  might  be  dif- 
played  upon  a  hundred  more  ufeful  fubje&s  •,  or  it 
may  arife  from  a  defire  of  gaining  the  good  will 
of  their  mailers  or  parents.  Where  thefe  incentives? 
are  wanting,  how  bitter  does  the  ftudv  of  languages 
render  that  innocent  period  of  life,  which  feems  ex*- 
clufively  intended  for  happinefs !  “  I  wilh  I  had 

never  been  born,’’  faid  a  boy  of  eleven  years  old,  to 
his  mother  :  "  why,  my  fon  ?”  faid  his  mother.  “  Be- 
caufe  lam  born  into  a  world  of  trouble.1 ”  “  What 
i(  trouble,”  faid  his  mother  fmiJing,  “  have  you 

•  i  *  j ..  «  «  »  .  .  j  -  *  * 

€f  known,  my  fon  ?” — a  Trouble  enough,  mamma,” 
faid  he,  <c  two  Latin  leffons  to  get,  every  day.”  This 

l  }•  •  V  J-  -  •  1 

boy  was  not  deficient  in  genius  nor  in  application  to 

t  *  >  »  *  £  jk  >  1  ?  .  ■-%, 

books.  lie  often  amufed  himfelf  in  reading  natural 
and  ancient  hiftory,  was  inquifitive  after  knowledge 
of  every  kind,  and  was  never  heard  to  alk  a  foolilh  or 
impertinent  queftion. 

VII.  Many  fprightly  boys  of  excellent  capacities  for 
ufeful  knowledge,  have  been  fb  di feuded  with  the  dead 

o  7  o 

languages,  as  to  retreat  from  the  drudgery  of  fchools, 
to  low  company,  whereby  they  have  become  bad  mem- 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STUDY  OF  THE 


24 

bers  of  fociety,  and  entailed  mifery  upon  all  who 

have  been  connected  with  them. 

-  -►  > 

«  '«  •  «  •  4  '  f*.  *  1.4  Cs  l  *  1 

% 

VIII.  The  Latin  and  Greek  languages  are  the  firft 
teds  of  genius  in  fchools.  Where  boys  difcover  a 
want  of  capacity  for  them,  they  are  generally  taken 
from  fchool,  or  remain  there  the  butts  of  their  com¬ 
panions.  Dr.  Swift  early  difcovered  a  want  of  tafte 
for  the  dead  languages.  It  would  be  unjuft  to  men¬ 
tion  this  faCt,  without  afcribing  it  to  the  voice  of 
reafon  and  nature  fpeaking  in  this  great  man.  He 
had  no  relifh  for  the  hufks  of  literature.  Truth  and 
knowledge  were  alone  commenfurate  to  the  dignity 
and  extent  of  his  mind. 

IX.  The  ftudy  of  fome  of  the  Latin  and  Greek 
daffies  is  unfavourable  to  morals  and  religion.  In¬ 
delicate  amours,  and  fhocking  vices  both  of  gods 
and  men,  fill  many  parts  of  them.  Hence  an  early 
and  dangerous  acquaintance  with  vice  ;  and  hence, 
from  an  affociation  of  ideas,  a  diminfhed  refpeCt 
for  the  unity  and  perfections  of  the  true  God. 

.  Thofe  daffies  which  are  free  from  this  cenfure, 

p  4*  1*. 

contain  little  elie  but  the  hiflories  of  murders,  per¬ 
petrated  by  kings,  and  related  in  fuch  a  manner 
as  to  excite  pleafure  and  admiration.  Hence  the 
univerfal  preference  of  the  military  character  to  all 
others. — To  the  fame  caufe  we  may  aferibe  the 
early  paflion  for  a  cockade  in  fchool  boys  ;  and  the 
the  frequent  adoption  of  the  principles  and  vices  of 


LATIN  AND  GREEK  LANGUAGES-  2$ 

l 

armies*  by  young  men  who  are  deftined  for  other 
profeffions. 

,  *  s  * 

X.  The  fludy  of  the  Latin  a'nd  Greek  languages 
is  improper  in  the  prefent  ftate  of  fociety  and 
government  in  United  States.  While  Greek  and 
Latin  are  the  only  avenues  to  fcience,  education 
will  always  be  confined  to  a  few  people.  It  is 
only  by  rendering  knowledge  universal,  that  a  re¬ 
publican  form  of  government  can  be  preferved  in 
our  country. 

.  % 

I  fhall  hereafter  mention  other  reafons  why  the 
ftudy  of  thefe  languages  is  improper  in  a  peculiar 

manner  in  the  United  States. 

*  • 

XI.  The  cultivation  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  lan¬ 
guages  is  a  great  obftacle  to  the  cultivation  and 
perfection  of  the  Englifh  language- 

XII.  It  is  like  wife  one  of  the  greateft  obftructions 
that  has  ever  been  thrown  in  the  way  of  propagating 
ufeful  knowledge. 

•  f  .  \ 

On  each  of  thefe  two  lad  propofitions  I  fhall 
treat  more  fully  in  another  place., 

I  proceed  new  to  confider  the  principle  arguments ' 
that  have  been  urged  in  favour  of  the  Latin  and 
Greek  languages*  as  necefiavy  parts  of  a  liberal 
education. 


E 


26 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STUDY  OF  THE 


I.  A  knowledge  of  the  Latin  or  Greek  grammar,  it 
has  been  faid,  is  neceflary  for  cur  becoming  acquainted 
with  Englifh  grammar.  There  was  a  time  when  the 
authority  of  a  great  name  impofed  this  opinion  upon 
me,  and  even  led  me  publicly  to  adopt  it,  but  I  am 
now  iatisfied  that  it  is  wholly  deftitute  of  truth. 
I  have  known  many  bachelors  and  mafters  of  arts, 
who  were  incorrect  Englifh  fcholars,  and  many  per- 
fons  of  both  fexes,  ignorant  of  the  dead  languages, 
who  both  wrote  and  fpoke  Englifh,  agreeably  to  the 
ftrictefi  rules  of  modern  grammar.  Indeed  I  cannot 
help  afcribing  the  late  improvements  in  the  Englifh 
language  chiefly  to  the  neglect  of  the  Latin  and  Greek 
languages.  The  Greek  is  fuppofed  to  be  the  mofc 
perfedt  language  both  in  its  conftrudlion  and  harmony, 
that  has  ever  been  fpoken  by  mortals.  Now  this 
language  was  not  learned  through  the  medium  of  any 
other.  Hence  it  was  acquired  and  fpoken  with 
equal  propriety  by  all  ranks  of  people,  and  not  lefs  by 
an  apple  woman,  than  by  the  celebrated  orators  of 
Greece.  In  that  highly  favoured  nurfery  of  human 
genius,  the  avenues  to  knowledge  were  not  obltrudt- 
ed  by  two  or  three  dead,  or  even  foreign  languages  j 
nor  was  the  precious  feafon  of  youth,  when  memory 
is  mo  ft  faithful,  and  curiofity  moft  active,  mis-fpent 
in  learning  words.  Hence  the  fame  of  ancient 

o 

Greece  in  arts  and  fciences,  and  lienee  the  lublimity 
of  the  orations  of  Demofthenes,  and  of  the  poems 
of  Homer.  There  was  nothing  in  the  compofition 


I 


I 


LATIN  AND  GREEK  LANGUAGES.  27 

of  the  blood,  or  in  the  ftructure  of  the  nerves  of  the 
ancient  Greeks,  which  gave  them  a  pre-eminence  over 
the  reft  of  mankind.  It  arofe  entirely  from  their 
being  too  wife  to  wafte  the  important  years  of  edu¬ 
cation  in  learning  to  call  fubftances,  by  two  or  three 
different  names,  inftead  of  ftudying  their  qualities  and 
ufes.  The  conftrudfion  of  the  Englifh,  differs  mate¬ 
rially  from  that  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages  ; 
and  the  attempt  to  accommodate  it  to  the  Greek 

and  Roman  grammars  has  checked  its  improvement  in 

• 

many  inftances.  I  hope  to  prove  hereafter,  that  a 
knowledge  of  grammar,  like  a  knowledge  of  pro¬ 
nunciation,  fhould  be  learned  only  by  the  ear  in  early 
life.  The  pradfice  of  teaching  boys  Englifh  grammar, 
through  the  medium  of  a  dead  language,  is  as  abfurd,  as 
it  would  be  for  a  parent  to  force  his  child  to  chew  peb¬ 
bles  or  mahogany,  in  order  to  prepare  its  gums  or 
teeth  to  mafticate  bread  and  meat. 

2.  We  are  told  that  the  Roman  and  Greek  authors 
are  the  only  perfect  models  of  tafte  and  eloquence, 
and  that  it  is  neceffary  to  ftudv  them,  in  order  to 
acquire  their  tafte  and  fpirit.  Strange  language  indeed? 
what  !  did  nature  exhauft  herfelf  in  Greece  and  Rome  ? 
Are  the  ancients  the  only  repofitories  of  the  great 
principles  of  tafte  and  genius?  I  rejedl  the  fuppofitionj 
and  will  venture  to  aflert,  in  oppofition  to  it,  that  we 
ftiall  never  equal  the  fublime  and  original  authors  of 
antiquity  until  we  ceafe  to  ftudv  them. 


1 


2$  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STUDY  OF  THE 

l  • 

Nature  is  always  the  fame.  Let  us  yield  to  her  infpi- 
ration  alone,  and  avail  ourfelves  of  allufions  to  the  many 
difcoveries  which  have  lately  been  made  in  her  works. 
Shakefpeare  owes  his  fame,  as  a  fublime  and  original 

"  i 

poet,  to  his  having  never  read  (as  is  generally  believed) 
a  Latin  or  Greek  author.  Hence  he  fpoke  from  nature, 
or  rather,  nature  fpoke  thro’  him.  But  it  (hould  be 
remembered  that  art,  as  well  as  nature  feeds  the  flame 
of  genius.  By  neglecting  the  ancients,  we  may  bor¬ 
row  imagery  from  the  many  ufeful  and  well  known 

• 

arts  which  have  been  the  inventions  of  modern  ages, 

_  \ 

and  thereby  furpafs  the  antients  in  the  variety  and 
effect  of  our  compofitions.  It  is  to  this  paffion  for 
ancient  writers  that  we  are  to  aferibe  the  great  want  of 
originality,  that  marks  too  many  of  the  poems  of  mod¬ 
ern  times.  A  judicious  critic  has  obferved,  that  the 
deferiptions  of  Spring,  which  are  publifhed  every  year 
in  England,  apply  chiefly  to  the  climates  of  Greece  and 
the  neighbourhood  of  Rome.  This  is  the  natural 
effect  of  a  fervile  attachment  to  the  ancient  poets.  It 
infenfibly  checks  invention  and  leads  to  imitation, 
The  pleafure  with  which  the  poems  of  the  fhoemaker, 
the  milk-maid,  and  the  Ayrefhire  ploughman,  have  been 
read  by  all  claffes  of  people,  proves  that  an  acquaintance 
with  the  Greek  or  Roman  poets,  is  not  neceffary  to 
infpire  juft  ideas,  or  to  produce  harmony  in  poetry. 
Ur.  Swift,  as  an  author,  owes  nothing  to  the  ancients* 
He  has  attained  to  what  Pope  calls  the  u  majefty”  and 
yyhat  Lord  Shafteflbury  calls  the  “  divinenefs”  of  fun- 


LATIN  "AND  GREEK  LANGUAGES.  29 

^  $ 

plicity  in  writing.  All  his  compofitions,  exemplify 
his  own  perfect  definition  of  ftyle.  They  confift  of 
“  proper  words  in  their  proper  places.”  I  have  heard 
of  a  learned  gentlemen  in  Scotland,  who,  when  any  of 
his  friends  propofed  to  introduce  a  flranger  to  him.  afk- 
ed  only,  as  a  proof  of  his  tafle  for  compofition,  whether 
he  admired  Dr.  Young’s  Night  Thoughts  ?  Were 
I  to  receive  a  vifitor  upon  fimilar  terms,  my  only 
queftion  fhould  be,  “  does  he  admire  the  ftyle  of  Dr. 

“  Swift  r 

Under  this  head  I  {hall  only  add,  that  the  mofl 
intimate  acquaintance  with  the  Roman  and  Greek 
writers  will  not  produce  perfection  of  ftyle  in  men  who 
are  devoid  of  tafte  and  genius.  Hence  we  fometimes 

find  the  moft  celebrated  feacheis  of  the  Latin  and 

*  •  \ 

Greek  languages  extremely  deficient  in  Englifh  compo¬ 
fition.  I  acknowledge  that  Milton,  Addifon,  Hume, 
Middleton  and  Bolingbroke,  whofe  ftyles  have  been 
fo  much  admired,  were  all  Latin  and  Greek  fcholars. 

1 

But  in  thefe  authors,  a  native  ftrength  of  genius,  and 

\ r  k 

tafte  preferved  their  writings  from  the  afleCtation  and 
obfeurity  which  are  imparted  to  Englifh  compofitions, 
by  an  adherence  to  the  grammars  and  arrangement  of 
the  Latin  and  Greek  languages. 

3.  It  has  been  faid  that  we  cannot  know  the  ufe  or 
meaning  of  thofe  numerous  Englifh  words  which  are 
derived  from  the  Latin  and  Gieek,  without  a  know¬ 
ledge  of  thofe  languages.  To  this  I  may  anfwer,  that 


3^ 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STUDY  OF  THB 


what  proves  too  much;  proves  nothing  at  all.  The 
argument  that  has  been  mentioned,  proves  that  a 
knowledge  of  the  Celtic,  the  Saxon,  the  German,  the 
French,  the  Italian  and  the  Dutch,  is  neceflary  to  ena¬ 
ble  us  to  underftand  the  ufe  of  many  Englifh  words; 
for  far  the  greateft  part  of  them  are  derived  from  thofe 
languages.  Eut  I  objedt  further  to  this  argument, 
that  if  a  knowledge  of  the  derivation  of  Englifh  words 
from  the  Greek  and  Latin  languages,  fhould  be  follow¬ 
ed  by  a  ftrift  regard  to  their  original  meaning,  it  would 

4  O  O  O 

lead  us  into  many  miftakes.  The  derivation  of  the 
word  u  angel”  would  lead  us  to  contemplate  a  meflen- 
ger,  inftead  of  a  perfect  finite  intelligence.  The 

derivation  of  the  word  “  rebellion”  would  lead  us  to 

* 

contemplate  a  war  commenced  by  a  conquered  people  : 
inftead  cf  a  refinance  to  the  juft  authority  of  govern¬ 
ment.  Many  other  instances  of  fimilar  incongruity 
misfit  be  mentioned  betwoen  the  meaning  of  certain 
Encriifi  words,  and  their  Roman  and  Greek  originals. 

O  y  O 

1  conclude  therefore  that  a  knowledge  of  the  derivation 
cf  words  is  not  necefTary  to  teach  us  their  proper  ufe 
and  meaning.  Cuftom,  which  is  the  lav/  and  rule  of 
fpeech,  and  what  is,  inftead  of  what  Jhould  be  common, 
will  always  govern  the  ufe  of  words.  Where  cuftom 
is  unknown,  modern  Englifh  dictionaries  will  fupply 
its  place. 


r 


Here  I  beg  leave  to  repeat  that  the  ftudy  of  the 
Greek  and  Latin  languages  by  the  Englifh  nation 
has  been  one  of  the  greateft  obftruftions,  that  ever 


( 


LATIN  AND  GREEK  LANGUAGES. 


Jt 


has  been  thrown  in  the  way  of  the  propagation  of 
ufefui  knowledge.  By  rendering  our  language  unintel¬ 
ligible  to  the  greateft  part  of  the  people  who  hear 
or  read  it,  it  has  made  it  an  improper  vehicle  of 
inflrudlion.  The  orations  of  Demofthenes,  we  arc 
told,  wrere,  like  earthquakes  in  ancient  Greece.  They 
moved  whole  nations.  The  reafon  of  this  is  plain. 
He  never  ufed  a  fmgle  v/ord  in  any  of  them,  but 
what  was  alike  intelligible  to  all  cla/Tes  of  his  hearers. 
The  effect  of  Indian  eloquence  upon  the  councils  and 
wars  of  the  favages  in  America,  depends  wholly 
upon  its  being  perfectly  underfcood  and  felt  by  every 
member  of  their  communities.  It  has  often  been 
remarked  that  in  England  no  play  will  fuccecd 
without  action,  while  fentiment  alone  infures  the 
loudefl  claps  of  applaufe,  in  the  theatres  of  France. 
The  reafon  of  this  is  obvious.  The  Englifh  lan¬ 
guage  requires  adtion  to  tranflate  it,  to  half  the 
common  audience  of  a  theatre,  whereas  the  French 
language,  which  is  uniform  and  ftationary,  is  un- 
derftood,  and,  of  courfe,  the  fentiment  which  is 
conveyed  by  it,  is  felt  and  enjoyed  by  all  who  hear 
it  .  The  writings  of  Voltaire  are  quoted  by  the 
hairdreffers  and  milliners  of  Paris,  becaufe  they  are 
written  in  the  fimple  language  of  the  country,  while 
many  of  the  mofl  celebrated  Britifli  authors  cannot 
be  underftood  by  common  readers,  without  the  help 
of  a  didlionary  or  interpreter.  Richardfon  and 

Fielding  are  an  exception  to  this*  remark.  They 

) 

are  alike  intelligible  and  acceptable  to  the  learned  an  L 


3Z 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  TfLE  STUDY  O V  THE 


unlearned,  znafmueh  as  they  have  conveyed  all  their 
ideas  in  plain,  but  decent  Englifh  words.  The  po¬ 
pularity  of  the  methodifl  preachers  may  be  aferibed 
in  part  to  their  fpeaking  in  a  language  that  is  intel- 
ligible  to  the  common  people.  It  is  true,  many  of 
them  are  deficient  in  education,  but  this  deficiency 
appears  more  in  an  ignorance  of  the  conftrudlion  of 
the  Englifh  language,  than  in  the  proper  ufe  of 
Englifh  words,  and  perhaps  this  may  be  aferibed 
chiefly  to  their  extempore  mode  of  preaching.  It  is 
happy  for  fome  of  thofe  churches  where  the  Latin  and 
Greek  languages  are  confidered  as  necefiary  parts  for 
education  in  their  clergy,  that  part  of  the  public  worfhip 
of  God  is  confined  to  reading  the  feriptures,  and  to 
forms  of  prayer,  both  of  which  are  written  in  Englifh, 
and  are  intelligible  to  every  clafs  of  hearers.  Such 
congregations  are  net  left  to  the  mercy  of  their  preach¬ 
ers  in  every  part  of  divine  fervice.  A  pious  woman 
in  London  who  heard  her  minifler  fpeak  of  the  Deity, 
by  the  name  of  the  great  Philanthropift,  afked  when 
fhe  came  home,  what  heathen  god  Philanthropift  was  ? 
There  are  few  fermons  compofed  by  Latin  and  Greek 
fcholars  in  which  there  are  not  many  hundred  words, 
that  are  equally  unintelligible  to  a  majority  of  their 
hearers.  Hence  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  were  John 
the  Baptift  to  appear  again  in  our  world,  and  to  fend 
to  fome  cf  our  doffors  of  divinity,  or  to  many  of  our 

i 

young  preachers  to  enquire  after  the  figns  of  their 
divine  million,  few  of  them  could  adopt  the  anfwer 


/ 


LATIN  AND  GREEK  LANGUAGES.  33 

0 

of  our  Saviout*  and  fay  that  to  the  poor  the  gofpel  was 
“  preached.' ”  It  will  require  a  total  ignorance  of  the 
Latin  and  Greek  languages,  or  an  uncommon  mixture 
of  good  fenfe  and  piety  in  a  preacher  who  is  acquaint¬ 
ed  with  them,  to  addrefs  an  audience  in  fuch  a  manner 
as  to  be  perfe-dtiy  underftood  by  the  illiterate  part  of 
them. 

I  with  to  prefs  the  confiderations  that  have  been 
mentioned  under  this  head,  home  to  the  feelings  of 
the  friends  of  virtue  and  religion.  It  has  been  demon- 
ftrated,  that  the  ftudy  of  the  ancient  claffics  is  hurtful 
to  morals.  It  is  equally  plain  that  the  corruption  of 
our  language  by  the  conftant  fubftitution  of  words  of 
Greek  and  Latin  origin,  to  thofc  which  had  become 
familiar  and  univerfal,  from  long  ufage,  has  greatly  re¬ 
tarded  the  progrefs  of  knowledge  of  all  kinds,  but  in 
a  more  efpecial  manner,  a  great  proportion  of  that 
fpecies  of  it  which  is  delivered  from  the  pulpit.  I 
appeal  to  the  conferences  of  minifters  of  the  gofpel  of 
all  denominations,  whether,  inftead  of  expofing  their 
their  candidates  for  the  miniftry,  to  temptation  from 
that  kind  of  learning  “  which  pufFeth  up,  without 
“  edifying,’7  it  would  net  be  better  to  direct  them 
to  employ  the  time  which  is  ufually  mif-pent  in 
acquiring  it,  in  ftudying  the  fcripturcs,  and  in  making 
themlelves  mafters  of  the  Engl  ifli  language  ?  It  is  im- 
poflible  to  tell  what  great  improvements  would  be  made 
by  thefe  means  in  moral  happinefs  in  the  United 
States. 


F 


34  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STUDY  OF  THE 

/ 

4.  We  are  told  that  a  knowledge  of  the  Greek  and 
Roman  languages,  is  neceflary  to  enable  us  to  under- 
ftand  the  frequent  allufions  that  are  made  by  Englifh 
writers  to  the  mythology  of  thofe  ancient  nations. 
To  this  I  anfwer,  that  the  lefs  we  know  of  this  fubjedf, 
the  better  ;  for  what  is  the  hiitory  of  the  ancient  fables, 
but  an  agreeable  defcription  of  frauds — rapes — and 
murders,  which,  while  they  pleafe  the  imagination, 
fhock  the  moral  faculty  ?  It  is  high  time  to  ceafe  from 
idolizing  the  idolatry  of  Greece  and  Rome.  Truth 
alone  is  knowledge,  and  fpending  time  in  ftudying 
Greek  and  Roman  fictions,  is  only  labouring  to  be 
more  ignorant.  If  there  is  any  moral  contained  in 
thefe  fictions,  it  is  fo  much  involved  in  obfcurity,  as 
not  to  be  intelligible  to  a  young  man  at  that  time  of 
life  in  which  he  ufually  becomes  acquainted  with  them. 
Happy  will  it  be  for  the  prefent  and  future  generations, 
if  an  ignorance  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages, 
fhould  bamfh  from  modern  poetry,  thofe  difgraceful 
invocation  of  heathen  gods,  which  indicate  no  lefs  a 
want  of  genius,  than  a  want  of  reverence  for  the  true 
God.  I  (hall  only  add  in  this  place,  that  the  beft 
writers  in  the  Englifh  language  leldom  borrow  allu¬ 
fions  from  the  mythology  of  the  Greek  or  Roman 
nations.  Richardfon  and  Fielding  have  pafled  them  by, 
and  hence  arifes  another  reafon  why  the  vrorks  of  thofe 
authors  are  fo  univerfally  intelligible  and  acceptable  to 
to  all  clafies  of  readers. 


LATIN  AND  GREEK  LANGUAGES. 


35 


5.  It  has  been  faid,  that  the  Latin  language  has 
become  a  neceflary  part  of  liberal  knowledge,  inas¬ 
much  as  the  European  nations  have  by  common  con- 
fent  made  it  the  vehicle  of  their  difeoveries.  This 
argument  had  fume  weight  while  fcience  confifted  on¬ 
ly  learning  what  was  known  ;  but  fince  the  enquiries 
,of  philofophers  have  been  dire&ed  to  new  objects  of 
obfervation  and  experiment,  the  Latin  language  has 
not  been  able  to  keep  pace  with  the  number  and  ra¬ 
pidity  of  their  difeoveries.  Where  {hall  we  find  Latin 
words  to  convey  juft  ideas  of  the  many  terms  which 
electricity — ^chemiftry — navigation — and  many  other 
fcience  shave  introduced  into  our  modern  languages? 
f.t  is  from  experience  of  the  infufliciency  of  the  Latin 
language  for  this  purpofe,  that  moft  of  the  modern  na¬ 
tions  of  Europe  have  been  obliged  to  adopt  their  own 
languages,  as  the  vehicles  of  their  difeoveries,  in 
fcience.  If  this  argument  had  been  acknowledged  to 
have  weight  in  Europe,  it  fhould,  from  local  circum- 
ftances,  have  no  weight  in  America.  Here  we  have 
po  intercourfe  with  any  part  of  Europe,  except  her  com¬ 
mercial  feaports,  and  in  thefe,  all  bufinefs  is  tranf- 
a&ed  in  modern  languages.  America,  with  refpeft 
to  the  nations  of  Europe,  is  like  the  new  planet, 
with  refpecd  to  thofe,  whofe  revolutions  have  long 
been  deferibed  in  the  folar  fyftem.  She  is  placed  at 
too  great  a  diftance  from  moft  of  them,  to  be  within 
the  influence  of  a  reciprocal  exchange  of  the  rays  of 
knowledge.  Like  a  certain  animal,  deferibed  by  the 


3 6  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STODV  OF  THE 

naturalifts,  fhe  muft  impregnate  herfelf.  But  while 
fhe  retains  a  friendly  intercourfe  with  Great  Britain-, 
all  the  valuable  difcoveries  which  are  publifhed  in  Latin, 
in  any  part  of  Europe,  will  be  tranfmitted  to  her 
through  the  medium  of  Englifh  tranflations. 

6.  It  has  been  faid  that  a  knowledge  of  the  Latin 
and  Greek  languages  is  neceflary  to  the  learned  pro- 
feffions  of  law— phyfic — and  divinity.  To  this  I  an* 
fvver,  that  the  moil  ufeful  books  in  each  of  thefe  pro- 
feffions  are  now  tranflated,  or  written  in  Englifh,  in 
confequence  of  which,  knowledge  in  law — phyfic — 
and  divinity  has  been  greatly  multiplied  and  extended. 
I  fee  no  ufe  at  prefent  for  a  knowledge  of  the  Latin 
and  Greek  languages,  for  a  lawyer,  a  phyfician,  or  a 
divine,  in  the  United  States,  except  it  be  to  facilitate 
the  remembrance  of  a  few  technical  terms  which  may 
be  retained  without  it.  Two  of  the  molt  celebrated  and 
fuccefsful  lawyers  in  the  United  States,  are  ftrangers 
to  the  Latin  language.  An  eminent  phyfician,  who 
fpent  feveral  of  the  years  of  his  youth  in  learning  this 
language,  has  affured  me,  that  he  had  not  more  than 
three  times  in  his  life  found  any  advantage  from  it. 
Very  few  phyficians,  I  believe,  (profeffors  of  medecine 
only  excepted,  who  are  obliged  to  review  Latin  thefes 
previoufly  to  their  publication)  retain  their  knowledge 
of  this  language,  after  they  become  ePcablifhed  in  bufi- 
nefs,  and  if  they  do,  it  is  preferred  lefs  from  necellity, 
than  from  vanity,  or  a  defire  of  reviving,  by  reading 


I 


LATIN  AND  CREEK  LANGUAGES.  37 

/ 

the  daffies,  the  agreeable  ideas  of  the  early  and  inno¬ 
cent  part  of  their  lives. 

I  know  that  it  is  commonly  believed,  that  a  know¬ 
ledge  of  the  Greek  language,  is  neceflary  to  enable  a 
divine  fully  to  underftand  the  New  Teftament.  But 
I  object  to  this  opinion,  that  the  mod  ufeful  and  ne- 
cefTary  parts  cf  this  divine  book  are  intelligible  to  the 
lowed  capacities  in  its  prefent  Englifh  drefs :  and  I 
believe  further,  that  there  have  been  as  many  difputes 
among  the  critics,  about  the  meaning  of  words,  and 
about  editions  and  tranflations  of  the  New  Teftament, 

as  there  have  been  among  unlearned  chriftians  about 

\ 

the  meaning  of  its  obfeure  and  difficult  paffages.  If 
a  knowledge  cf  the  Greek  language  be  neceflary  to 
enable  a  divine  to  underftand  the  New  Teftament, 
it  follows,  that  a  critical  knowledge  of  all  the 
dialects  in  which  the  different  parts  of  it  were  origi¬ 
nally  compofed,  is  equally  neceflary  for  the  fame  pur- 
pole  *,  and,  if  neceflary  to  a  divine,  why  not  to  the 
common  people,  for  they  are  equally  interefted  in 
all  the  truths  of  revelation  ?  The  difficulties  and  ab- 
furdities  into  which  we  are  led  by  this  propofition,  are 
too  obvious  to  be  mentioned. 

We  are  very  apt  to  forget  the  age  in  which  we  live. 

In  the  fifteenth  century,  all  the  knowledge  of  Europe 

>  , 

was  locked  up  in  a  few  Greek  and  Latin  manuferipts. 
In  this  confined  ftate  of  knowledge,  an  acquaintance 
with  the  Latin  language  was  thought  to  be  neceflary 


\ 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STUDY  OF  THE 


to  civilize  the  human  mind — hence  the  teachers  of 
it  acquired  the  title  of  “  profeffors  of  humanity  ”  in 
the  European  univerfities.  But  we  live  in  an  age  in 
which  knowledge  has  been  drawn  from  its  dead  repo- 
fitories,  and  diffufed  by  the  art  of  printing,  in  living 
languages,  through  every  part  of  the  world.  Huma¬ 
nity  has  therefore  changed  hides.  Her  gentlenefs  is 
now  altogether  in  favour  of  modern  literature. 

J 

We  forget  not  only  the  age,  but  the  country  like- 
wife  in  which  we  live.  In  Europe  many  ancient  con¬ 
futations — laws — treaties — -official  letters — and  even 
private  deeds,  are  written  in  Larin — hence  the  know¬ 
ledge  of  it  has  fometimes  been  found  ufeful  for  ftates- 
men  and  lawyers — but  all  the  conftitutions,  laws, 
treaties,  public  letters,  and  private  deeds  of  the  United 
States,  are  written  in  Engliffi  ;  and  of  courfe  a  know¬ 
ledge  of  the  Latin  language  is  not  neceffary  to  un¬ 
derhand  them.  It  is  therefore  as  ufelefs  in  America, 
as  the  Spanifh  great-coat  is  in  the  ifland  of  Cuba,  ox 

the  Dutch  foot-Oove,  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 

% 

We  forget  further  the  difference  of  occupation  be¬ 
tween  the  inhabitants  of  the  prefent,  and  of  the  fifteenth 
century.  Formerly  public  prayers  and  war  were  the 
only  bufinefs  of  man  :  but  fince  agriculture,  manufac¬ 
tures  and  commerce,  have  afforded  fuch  different  and 
profitable  employments  to  mankind,  there  cannot  be 
greater  folly  than  to  learn  two  languages  which  are  no 
ways  connected  with  the  advancement  of  any  of  them. 


i 


LATIN  AND  GREEK  LANGUAGES.  7,i) 

<c  I  once  thought  health,  the  greatefl  blefling  In  the 
<s  world/’  faid  Mr.  Rittenhoufe  to  the  author  of  this 
eflay,  cc  but  I  do  not  think  fo  now.  There  is  one  thing 
“  of  much  greater  value,  and  that  is  time.”  This 
opinion  of  our  excellent  American  philofopher,  is  true 
every  where,  but  in  a  more  efpecial  manner  in  the 
United  States.  Here  the  opportunities  of  acquiring 
knowledge  and  of  advancing  private  and  public  intereft 
are  fo  numerous,  and  the  rewards  of  genius  and  in- 
duftry  fo  certain,  that  not  a  particle  of  time  fhould  be 
mis-fpent  or  loft.  We  occupy  a  new  country.  Our 
principal  bufmefs  fhould  be  to  explore  and  apply  its 
refources,  all  of  which  prefs  us  to  enterprize  and  hafte. 
Under  thefe  circumftances,  to  fpend  four  or  five  years 
in  learning  two  dead  languages,  is  to  turn  our  backs 
upon  a  gold  mine,  in  order  to  amufe  ourfelves  in 
catching  butterflies. 

It  is  agreeable  to  hear  of  the  progrefs  of  human 
reafon  in  the  gradual  declenfion  of  the  ufual  methods 
of  teaching  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages  within  the 
laft  forty  years  in  Europe.  Formerly  boys  were 
obliged  to  commit  whole  volumes  of  Latin  and  Greek 
poetry  to  memory,  as  the  only  means  of  learning  thofc 

languages.  Nor  was  this  all  ;  they  were  obliged  to 

•  #  . 

compofe  Latin  verfes,  without  the  leaft  regard  being 
paid  to  genius,  or  tafte  for  poetry.  The  laft  aft  of 
fchool  tyranny,  was  to  compel  boys  to  read  the  ancient 
clafiics  without  the  help  of  tranflations.  Ail  thefe 
methods  of  teaching  the  dead  languages  are  now  laid 


,io  observations  on  the  study  of  the 

I 

I 

afide.  The  next  ray  of  truth  that  irradiates  human 
reafon  upon  this  fubjedt,  I  hope  will  teach  us  to  rejedt 
the  Latin  and  Greek  languages  altogether,  as  branches 
of  a  liberal  education. 

tr  / 

The  progrefs  of  human  reafon  fhould  likewife  be 
acknowledged  in  having  banifhed  Latin  and  Greek 
quotations  from  Jfermons,  and  other  religious  tracts, 
which  are  intended  for  the  common  people.  Such 
quotations  are  to  be  found  only  in  books  of  fcience, 
addreffed  to  the  members  of  the  learned  profefiions,  or 
to  perfons  who  are  fuppofed  to  be  acquainted  with  the 

Latin  and  Greek  languages. 

\  ’  ' 

There  are  certain  follies,  like  the  objedts  of  fight, 
which  cannot  be  feen  .when  the  eye  is  placed  too  near 
them.  We  are  (truck  with  pity  and  horror  in  con¬ 
templating  the  folly  difeovered  by  our  anceflors  in  their 
military  expeditions  to  the  holy  land  of  Paleftine-  The 
generations  which  are  to  follow  us,  will  probably  view 
our  partiality  to  the  claffic  ground  of  Greece  and  Rome, 
with  fimilar  emotions.  We  laugh  at  the  credulity  of 
thofe  nations  who  worfhipped  apes  and  crocodiles, 
without  recollecting,  that  future  ages  will  treat  our 
fuperftitious  veneration  for  the  ancient  poets  and  ora¬ 
tors,  with  the  fame  ridicule.  Pofterity,  in  reading  the 
hiitory  of  the  American  revolution,  will  wonder  that 
in  a  country  where  lb  many  exploits  of  wifdom  and 
virtue  were  performed,  the  human  underftanding  was 
fettered  by  prejudices  in  favour  of  the  Latin  and  Greek 


LATIN  AND  GREEK  LANGUAGES.  4t 

t 

% 

languages.  But  I  hope  with  the  hiftory  of  this  folly, 
fome  hiftorian  will  convey  to  future  generations,  that 
many  of  the  moll  a&ive  and  ufeful  characters  in 
accomplifliing  this  revolution,  were  Grangers  to  the 
formalities  of  a  Latin  and  Greek  education. 

It  is  high  time  to  diftinguifh  between  a  philofopher,  x 
and  a  fcholar,  between  things  and  words.  “  He 
«  was  educated  at  the  college  of — — : ”  faid  a  gentle^ 
man  to  his  friend,  fpeaking  of  a  young  man  who  was 
known  to  them  both.  “  You  mean  Sir,”  replied  his 

friend,  “  he  got  his  learning  at  the  college  of - ;  but 

“  as  to  education,  he  appears  to  have  received  none 
«  any  where.”  This  young  man  was  an  excellent 
Latin  and  Greek  fcholar,  but  knew  nothing  of  men, 
or  things. 

Let  it  not  be  fuppofed  from  any  thing  that  has  been 
here  advanced,  that  I  wifh  the  knowledge  of  the  Latin 
and  Greek  languages  to  be  extinct  in  the  world.  Far 
from  it.  My  wifh  is. to  fee  it  preferved,  like  the  know¬ 
ledge  of  law,  or  medicine,  as  a  diftinct  profeflion.  Let 
the  perfons,  who  devote  themfelves  to  the  ftudy  of  thefe 
languages,  be  called  linguifts,  or  interpreters,  and  let 
them  be  paid  for  their  tranflations  and  explanations  of 
Latin  and  Greek  books,  and  other  compofitions  in 
thofe  languages.  No  more  confidence  will  be  placed 
by  the  public,  in  the  members  of  this  new  profeflion, 
than  is  daily  placed  in  lawyers  and  phyficians,  in 
matters  of  much  greater  importance ;  nor  wi'd  more 

G 


t 


I 


42  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STUDY  OF  THE 

credit  be  given  to  them,  than  we  are  accuftomed  to  give 
to  travellers  and  hiftorians.  There  can  be  no  more 
reafon  why  every  man  fhould  be  capable  of  tranflating 
or  judging  of  a  Latin  or  Greek  book,  than  there  can 
be  why  every  man  fhould  be  a  lawyer  or  a  phyfician, 
or  why  he  fhould  be  obliged  to  vifit  Conflantinople  or 
Grand  Cairo,  in  order  to  become  acquainted  with  the 
fifcuation  of  thefe  two  great  cities.  If  this  method  of 
preferving  and  applying  the  dead  languages  fhould  be 
adopted,  young  men  will  learn  them  as  they  do  law  and 
phyfic,  by  ferving  an  apprenticefhip,  inftead  of  going 
to  fchool. 

The  following  advantages  would  immediately  attend 
the  rejection  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages  as 
branches  of  a  liberal  education. 

1.  It  would  improve,  and  finally  perfect  the  Englifh 
language,  by  checking  the  increafe  of  thofe  fuperfluous 
words  which  are  derived  from  the  Latin  and  Greek 
languages.  What  ufe  have  we  for  feftivity — celebrity 
— hilarity — amenity — and  a  hundred  other  duplicate 
words,  with  which  Johnfon  and  Harris  have  corrupted 
and  weakened  our  language,  and  which  are  unintelli¬ 
gible  to  three  fourths  of  common  Englifh  readers  ? 
The  rejection  of  the  ancient  languages,  would  further 
banifh  Latin  and  Greek  words,  fuch  as,  exit,  ferity 
excudh ,  pinxity  acmey  finis ,  bona  fd  e>  ipfo  facto ,  advalo - 
rertiy  and  a  hundred  others,  equally  difgufting,  from 
Englifh  compofitions.  It  would  moreover  preferve 


LATIN  AND  GREEK  LANGUAGES. 


43 


our  language  from  encroachments  of  French  and  Ita¬ 
lian  words,  fuch  as  eclat — amateur — douceur — en  pajjant 
— corps — dilettanti — con  cuore — piano  and  many  others, 
all  of  which  impair  the  uniformity  and  dignity  of  the 
Englifh  language. 

2.  The  rejection  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  langauges 
from  our  fchools,  would  produce  a  revolution  in  fcience, 
and  in  human  affairs.  That  nation  which  {hall  firfl 
{hake  off  the  fetters  of  thofe  ancient  languages,  will 
advance  further  in  knowledge,  and  in  happinefs,  in 
twenty  years,  than  any  nation  in  Europe  has  done,  in  a 
hundred. 

3.  It  will  have  a  tendency  to  deilroy  the  prejudices 
of  the  common  people  againft  fchools  and  colleges. 
The  common  people  do  not  defpife  fcholars,  becaufe 
they  know  more,  but  becaufe  they  know  lefs  than  them- 
felves.  A  mere  fcholar  can  call  a  horfe,  or  a  cow,  by 
two  or  three  different  names,  but  he  frequently  knows 
nothing  of  the  qualities,  or  ufes  of  thofe  valuable 
animals. 

4.  It  would  be  the  means  of  banilhing  pride  from 
our  feminaries  of  public  education.  Men  are  generally 
moit  proud  of  thofe  things  that  do  not  contribute  to 
the  happinefs  of  themfelves,  or  others.-  Ufeful  know- 
ledge  generally  humbles  the  mind,  but  learning,  like 
fine  clothes,  feeds  pride,  and  thereby  hardens  the  hu¬ 
man  heart. 


44  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STUDY  OF  THE 


5.  It  would  greatly  encreafe  the  number  of  lludents 
in  our  colleges,  and  thereby  extend  the  benefits  of 
education  through  every  part  of  our  country.  The 
excellency  of  knowledge  would  then  be  obvious  to  every 

v 

body,  becaufe  it  would  be  conftantly  applicable  to 

\ 

fome  of  the  neceffury  and  ufeful  purpofes  of  life,  and 
particularly  to  the  fecurity  and  order  of  wife  and  juft, 
government. 


6.  It  would  remove  the  prelent  immenfe  difparity 

t 

which  fub fills  between  the  fexes,  in  the  degrees  of  their 
education  and  knowledge.  Perhaps  one  caufe  of  the 
mifery  of  many  families,  as  well  as  communities,  may 
be  fought  for  in  the  mediocrity  of  knowledge  of  the 
women.  They  fhould  know  more  or  lefs>  in  order  to 
be  happy  themfelves,  and  to  communicate  happinefs 
to  others.  By  ceafing  to  make  Latin  and  Greek  a 
neceffary  part  of  a  liberal  education,  we  open  the  doors 
for  every  ipecies  of  improvement  to  the  female  part  of 
iociety  -hence  will  arife  new  pleafures  in  their  com¬ 
pany, — and  hence,  too,  we  may  expedl  a  general 
reformat  on  and  refinement,  in  the  generations  which 
are  to  follow  us  5  for  principles  and  manners  in  all 
focicties  are  formed  chiefly  by  the  women. 


It  may  be  afked  here,  how  fhall  we  employ  thofe 
years  of  a  boy,  that  ate  now  ufually  fpent  in  learning 
the  Latin  and  Greek  languages  ?  1  lhall  endeavour  to 

anfwer  this  queftion  by  laying  down  a  fhort  plan  of  a 


liber 


ml 


Inglifh  educ 


at:  on. 


In  this  undertaking,  I  lhall 


I 


LATIN  AND  GREEK  LANGUAGES.  45 

•  • 

ftrive  to  forget  for  a  while  all  the  fydems  of  education 
I  have  ever  feen,  and  fuggeft  fuch  a  one  as  is  founded 
in  the  original  principles  of  action  in  the  human  mind. 

I  v  ^ 

•  .  •  k  *  *  #  v 

i.  Let  the  firft  eight  years  of  a  boy’s  time  be  em¬ 
ployed  in  learning  to  fpeak,  fpell,  read  and  write  the 
Englifh  language.  Lor  this  purpofe,  let  him  be  com¬ 
mitted  to  the  care  of  a  matter,  who  fpeaks  correctly  at 
all  times,  and  let  the  books  he  reads,  be  written  in  a 
fimple  and  corre6t  ftyle.  During  thefe  years,  let  not 
an  Englifh  grammar  by  any  means  be  put  into  his 
hands.  It  is  to  mod  boys,  under  even  twelve  years 
,of  age,  an  unintelligible  book.  As  well  might  we 
contend,  that  a  boy  fhould  be  taught  the  names  and 
number  of  the  humours  of  the  eye,  or  the  mufcles  of 
the  tongue,  in  order  to  learn  to  fee,  or  to  fpeak,  as  be 
taught  the  Englifh  language,  by  means  of  grammar. 
Sancho,  in  attempting  to  learn  to  read,  by  chewing  the 
four  and  twenty  letters  of  die  alphabet,  did  not  exhib¬ 
it  a  greater  abfurdity,  than  a  boy  of  feven  or  eight  years 
old  docs,  in  committing  grammar  rules  to  memory,  in 
order  to  underftand  the  Englifh  language.  Did  we 
wifh  to  deferibe  a  fhip,  fo  as  to  have  all  its  parts  perfedlly 
and  fpeedilv  known,  would  we  begin  by  deferibing  its 
detached  parts  in  a  fhip-yard,  or  a  rope-walk?  Or  would 
we  not  firft  fix  every  part  in  its  proper  place,  and  then 
explain  the  names  and  ufes  of  thefe  parts,  by  (hewing 
their  fubferviency  to  each  other?  In  like  manner,  I  af¬ 
firm,  that  the  conftrudlion  of  our  language  fhould  be 
learned  by  a  careful  attention  to  the  places  and  ufes  of  the 


1 


46  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STUDY  OF  THE 

% 

different  parts  of  fpeech  in  agreeable  compofitions,  and 
not  by  contemplating  them  in  a  disjointed  ftate  in 
an  Englifh  grammar.  But  I  will  add  further,  that 
grammar  fhould  be  taught  only  by  the  ear.  Pro- 
nounciation,  which  is  far  more  extenfive,  and  dif¬ 
ficult,  is  learned  only  in  this  way.  To  teach  con¬ 
cord  in  the  arrangement  of  words,  let  the  mafter 
converfe  with  his  pupils  as  well  as  hear  them  read, 
and  let  him  diftinftly  mark  and  corredl  every  devi¬ 
ation  from  grammatical  propriety  which  they  utter. 
This  method  of  teaching  grammar  has  been  tried  with 
fuccefs  in  the  families  of  feveral  gentlemen  of  my 
acquaintance.  It  is  both  rational,  and  practicable.  It 
has,  moreover,  the  authority  of  the  wife  Greeks  to  re¬ 
commend  it.  Homer,  Xenophon,  Demofthenes  and 
Longinus,  I  believe,  were  all  taught  to  fpeak,  read, 
and  write  their  native  language,  without  the  incum¬ 
brance  of  a  Greek  grammar.  I  do  not  mean  by  any 
thing  that  has  been  advanced,  to  mfinuate  that  our 
pupil  fhould  not  be  inftructed  in  the  principles  and  laws 
of  our  language.  I  have  referved  this  part  of  know¬ 
ledge  to  a  much  later  period  of  his  youth,  at  which 
time  he  will  acquire  it-  almofl  as  foon  as  Moliere’s 
“  Citizen  turned  Gentleman,”  learned  to  diftinguifh 
between  profe  and  poetry.  Pie  will  find  that  he  is  in 
poffeffion  of  this  knowledge,  and  that  the  bufmefs  of 
his  mafter  will  be  only  to  give  names  to  things  with 
which  he  is  already  acquainted. 


LATIN  AND  GREEK  LANGUAGES. 


47 


Under  this  head,  I  {hall  only  add,  that  the  perfec¬ 
tion  of  the  ear,  as  an  avenue  of  knowledge  is  not 
fufficiently  known.  Ideas  acquired  throu  gh  that  or¬ 
gan,  are  much  more  durable,  than  thofe  acquired 
by  the  eyes.  We  remember  much  longer  what  we 
hear,  than  what  we  fee  •,  hence,  old  men  recolleft 
voices,  long  after  they  forget  faces.  1  hefe  facts  are 
capable  of  great  application  to  the  bufmefs  of  educa¬ 
tion. 

Having  provided  our  pupil  with  a  vehicle  of  know¬ 
ledge,  by  teaching  him  to  read  and  write,  our  next 
bufmefs  fhould  be  to  furnilh  him  with  ideas.  Here 
it  will  be  neceflary  to  remark,  that  the  human  mind  in 
early  life  firft  comprehends  fubftances.  From  thefe  it 
proceeds  to  actions,  from  actions  to  qualities,  and 
from  qualities  to  degrees.  Let  us  therefore  in  edu¬ 
cation,  follow  this  order  of  nature,  and  begin  by  in- 
{trusting  our  pupil  in  the  knowledge  of  fubftances,  or 
things.  For  this  purpofe,  let  us  initiate  him  into  the 
knowledge  of  the  globe  on  which  he  exifts,  by  teach¬ 
ing  him 
o 

2.  Natural  hiftory.  This  ftudy  is  fimple  and  truly 
delightful.  Animals  of  all  kinds  are  often  the  fubje£ts 
of  converfation  and  difputes  among  boys  in  their 
walks  and  diverfions.  But  this  is  not  all  3  this  ftudy 
is  the  foundation  of  all  ufeful  and  practical  knowledge 
in  agriculture,  manufactures  and  commerce,  as  well  as 
in  philofophy,  chemiftry,  and  mcdecine.  By  making 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STUDY  OF  THfc 


natural  hiftory  the  firft  fludy  of  a  boy,  we  imitate! 
the  conduct  of  the  firfl:  teacher  of  man.  The  firft 
leffon  that  Adam  received  from  his  Maker  in  Para- 
dife,  was  upon  natural  hiftory.  It  is  probable  that 
the  dominion  of  our  great  progenitor  over  the  brute 
creation,  and  every  other  living  creature,  was  founded 
upon  a  perfedi  knowledge  of  their  names  and  qualities, 
for  God  appears  in  this,  as  well  as  in  other  inflances, 
to  have  a£Ied  by  the  inftrumentality  of  human  rea- 
ion. — Where  a  mufeum  is  wanting,  all  that  is  ne- 
ceffary  for  a  boy  to  know  of  animals  and  fifhes — infedts 
trees  and  herbs,  may  be  taught  by  means  of 
prints. 


3.  Geography,  is  a  (impie  fcicnce,  and  accom* 
modated  to  the  capacity  of  a  boy  under  twelve  years 
of  age.  It  may  be  perfectly  underftood  by  means  of 
cards — globes — and  maps  *,  for  each  of  thefe  modes 
of  conveying  inftruclion,  feizes  uport  the  fenfes  and 
imagination.  The  frequent  application  which  a  boy 
is  obliged  to  make  of  his  knowledge  in  geography, 
in  reading,  and  converfation,  will  foon  fix  it  upon 
his  memory,  and  from  the  time  and  manner  in  which 
lie  will  acquire  it,  he  wull  never  forget  iti 

I  allow  four  years  to  be  employed  in  acquiring 
thefe  two  fundamental  branches  of  knowledge.  After 
our  pupil  has  become  tolerably  well  acquainted  with 
them,  he  fhould  be  inftrucled  in  the 


LATIN  AND  GREEK  LANGUAGES 


49 


4.  French  and  German  languages.  Thefe  will  be 
equally  neceffary,  whether  commerce — phyfic — law  or 

1 

divinity  is  the  purfuit  of  a  young  man.  They  fhould 
be  acquired  only  by  the  ear.  Great  care  fhould  be 
taken  not  to  permit  him  to  learn  thefe  languages  be¬ 
fore  he  is  twelve  years  old,  otherwife  he  will  contract 
fo  much  of  the  French  and  German  accent  as  will 
impair  the  prononciation  of  his  native  tongue. 

5.  Arithmetic,  and  fome  of  the  more  fimple 
branches  of  the  mathematics  fhould  be  acquired  be¬ 
tween  the  twelfth  and  fourteenth  years  of  his  life. 

6.  Between  his  fourteenth  and  eighteenth  years, 
he  fhould  be  inftrudted  in  grammar — oratory — criti- 
cifm — the  higher  branches  of  mathematics — philofophy 
— chemiftry — logic — metaphyfics — chronology — hifto- 
ry — -government — the  principles  of  agriculture,  and 
manufactures — and  in  every  thing  elfe  that  is  necefiary 
to  qualify  him  for  public  ufefulnefs,  or  private  hap- 
pinefs. 

7.  I  know  it  is  common  to  introduce  what  is  called 
Moral  Philofophy  into  a  fyftem  of  liberal  education.  The 
name  of  this  fcience  is  derived  from  the  Pagan  fchools. 
The  fludy  of  it  conflicted  a  material  part  of  their 
learning.  Inftead  of  continuing  this  anti-chriftian 
mode  of  teaching  morals,  I  would  propofe  a  courfe  of 
lectures  to  be  given  upon  the  evidences,  doctrines  and 
precepts  of  the  Chriftian  religion.  The  laft  part  of  this 

H 


5-0  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STUDY  OE  THE 

f  ,  \  • 

courfe  might  be  made  to  include  the  whole  circle  of 
moral  duties,  and  from  the  connection  it  would  have 
with  the  evidences  and  doCtrines  of  Chriftanity  it 
waauld  produce  an  impreffion  upon  the  under  landing 
which  no  time  or  circumftances  would  ever  wear  away. 
It  is  by  negleCting  to  teach  young  men  the  Chris¬ 
tian  religion  as  a  Science,  or  by  the  feparation  of  its 
morals  from  its  principles,  that  colleges  have  become  in 
fo  many  inftances  the  nurferies  of  infidelity. 


Extract  of  a  letter  from  the  reverend  Air.  fames  Muir, 
principal  of  the  academy  of  Alexandria  in  Virginia ,  to  the 
Author ,  dated  July  29,  1791* 

“  ~S-  HAVE  read  with  Satisfaction,  in  the  Mufeum, 

-JL  “  your  observations  on  Studying  the  learned  lan- 
“  guages.  There  is  little  tafte  for  them  in  this  place. 
a  In  our  academy,  where  there  are  near  ninety 
“ -Students,  not  above  nineteen  are  poring  over  Latin 

1 

“  and  Greek.  One  of  thefe  nineteen  was  lately 
‘ 6  addreffed  by  a  Student  of  Arithmetic  in  the  follow- 
«  ing  language — Pray,  Sir,  can  you  refolve  me,  by 
“  your  Latin,  this  queftion,  If  one  bufhel  of  corn  coft 
“  four  Shillings,  what  coft  fifty  bufhels  ? — A  demand 
“  of  this  kind  from  a  youth,  is  to  me  a  proof  of  the 
u  tafte  of  Americans  in  the  prefent  day,  who  prefer 
“  the  ufeful  to  the  ornamental V 


LATIN  AND  GR.EEK  LANGUAGES. 


51 


ANSWER  to  the  foregoing  letter ,  containing  further 
cbfervations  upon  the  Jludy  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  lan¬ 
guages. 

Dear  Sir, 

4 

IT  gave  me  great  pleafure  to  find,  by  your 
polite  letter  of  July  29th,  that  my  opinions, 
upon  the  fubjeel  of  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages, 
have  met  with  your  approbation  \  and  that  the  young 
gentlemen  who  compole  your  academy  had  difcovered 
fo  much  good  fenfe  in  preferring  ufeful  to  ufelefs ,  or,  at 
heft,  ornamental  literature. 

1 

I  have  read  all  the  replies  that  have  been  publifhed 
to  my  opinions  :  and  am  more  confirmed  in  the  truth 
of  them,  than  ever,  by  the  weaknefs  and  fallacy  of  the 
objedlions  that  have  been  made  to  them.  The  ftyle 
of  fome  of  thofe  replies  has  eftablifhed  one  of  my  pro- 
pofitions  in  the  mod  forcible  manner.  It  has  demon- 
flrated  that  a  knowledge  of  the  dead  languages  does 
not  confer  taPce  or  elegance  in  the  Englifh  language, 
any  more  than  it  does  good  breeding,  or  good  temper. 
I  except  from  this  remark  the  candid  ana  ingenious 
letters  publifhed  in  the  Federal  Gazette,  faid  to  be 

V 

written  by  Dr.  Stuber,  of  this  city. 

To  perfuade  men,  that  white  is  blacky  or  black,  white , 
it  is  necefiary  fometimes  to  make  them  believe  that  they 
are  grey.  The  mind  requires  a  refling  point,  in  pafiing 
from  error  to  truth,  upon  many  fubjecls.  I  fhall  avail 
myfelf  of  this  weaknefs  in  human  nature,  and  take  the 


52  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STUDY  OF  THE 

liberty  of  fuggefting  a  method  of  teaching  the  Latin 
and  Greek  languages,  which  I  conceive,  will  be  ac¬ 
commodated  to  the  prefent  flate  of  the  prejudices  of 
our  countrymen  in  their  favour. 

The  late  Dr.  Franklin  ufed  to  fay,  that  the  learning 
of  a  dead  or  foreign  language  might  be  divided  into 
ten  parts.  That  it  required  five  only  to  learn  to  read 
it  —/even  to  ipeak  it — and  the  whole  ten  to  write  it. 
Now,  when  we  confider  how  feldom  we  are  called 
upon  to  /peak  or  write  the  Latin  or  Greek  languages, 
fuppofe  we  teach  our  boys  only  to  read  them.  This 
will  cut  off  one  half  the  difficulty  of  learning  them,  and 
and  enable  a  boy  to  acquire  as  much  of  bothy  in  two 
years,  as  will  be  neceflary  for  him.  He  will,  moreover, 
by  this  plan,  be  able  to  read  more  of  the  claffics  than 
are  read  at  prefent  in  our  fchools.  The  claffics  are 
now  read  only  for  the  fake  of  acquiring  a  knowledge 
of  the  con  {fraction  of  the  languages  in  which  they  are 
written  \  but  by  the  plan  I  have  propofed,  they  would 
be  read  for  the  fake  of  the  matter  they  contained,  and 
there  would  be  time  enough  to  read  each  book  from 
its  beginning  to  its  end.  At  prefent,  what  boy  ever 
reads  all  the  AEnead  of  Virgil,  or  the  Iliad  of  Homer  ? 
In  fhort,  few  boys  ever  carry  with  them  fro^n  fchool, 
any  thing  but  a  fmattering  of  the  claffics.  They  peep 
into  a  dozen  of  them  ^  but  are  taught  to  attend  to  every 
thing  they  contain,  more  than  to  the  fubjccts  which  arc 
treated  of  by  them. 


LATIN  AND  GREEK  LANGUAGES. 


53 


In  the  way  I  have  propofed,  a  boy  would  be  able 
to  Ntranflate  all  the  Latin  and  Greek  books  he  would 

meet  with,  and  from  the  perfedl  knowledge  he  would 

•  ^ 

acquire  of  them  at  fchool,  he  would  probably  retain 
that  knowledge  as  long  as  he  lived. 

To  carry  this  mode  of  teaching  the  Latin  and  Greek 
languages  into  efFedt,  it  is  absolutely  necelTary  that  a 
boy  fhould  fil'd  be  indrudted  in  kijiory  and.  geography* 
Let  him  read  an  account  of  the  rife,  progrefs,  and  fall 
of  the  Greek  and  Roman  nations*,  and  examine,  upon 
maps,  the  countries  they  inhabited  and  conquered,  and 
their  languages  will  foon  become  interefting  to  him. 
The  neglect  of  this  natural  and  eafy  mode  of  indruc- 
tion,  is  an  inverfion  of  all  order.  The  abfurdity  of  it 
was  once  happily  expofed  by  a  boy  of  eight  years  old, 
who,  with  a  Latin  Grammar  in  his  hand,  gravely  aiked 
his  father,  “  who  made  the  Latin  language,  and  what 
i(  was  it  made  for  ?”  Had  this  boy  been  previoufly 
indructed  in  the  Roman  hidory,  he  would  not  have 
aiked  fuch  a  cuedion.  Confidering  his  age,  it  was  as 
natural,  as  it  was  foolifli. 

There  is  no  play  common  .among  children,  that 
drikes  me  with  an  idea  of  half  the  folly  that  I  am  ftruck 
with,  every  time  I  look  into  a  Latin  fchool,  and  fee 
thirty  or  forty  little  boys  pinioned  clown  to  benches,  and 
declining  nouns,  conjugating  verbs,  or  writing  Latin 
verfions.  I  confider  the  hieheft  attainment  in  this 

O 

kind  of  learning,  as  nothing  more  than  fuccefsful  dot- 


54  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  STUDY  OF  THE 

tards,  but  far  lefs  ufeful  than  thofe  which  are  exhibited 
in  the  ufual  athletic  excercifes  of  fchool  boys. 

By  adopting  the  plan  I  have  propofed,  a  boy  will 
not  open  a  Latin  or  Greek  book,,  till  he  is  fourteen  or 
fifteen  years  old ;  fo  that  the  dead  languages,  inftead 
of  being  the  firft,  will  be  the  la  ft  things  he  will  learn 
at  fchool.  At  this  age,  he  will  learn  them  with  half 
the  trouble,  and  underftand  them  much  better  than  he 
would  have  done  at  nine  or  ten  years  of  age.  For 
though  languages  are  acquired  with  moft  cafe  by  the 
ear  under  puberty,  yet  they  a^e  acquired  moft  eafily 
by  the  eye,  after  that  period  of  life.  But  there  is. 
another  advantage  in  making  the  Latin  and  Greek 
languages  the  laft  things  that  are  taught  at  fchool. 
The  bent  of  a  young  man’s  inclinations  is  generally 
known  at  fourteen  or  fifteen,  and  feklom  fooner.  Now- 
if  he  incline  to  commerce — to  a  military— or  a  naval 
life — or  to  a  mechanical  employment,  in  all  of  which 
it  is  agreed,  Latin  and  Greek  are  unnecefiary,  it 
will-  be  improper  to  detain  him  any  longer  at  fchool, 
by  which  means  much  money  will  be  faved  by  the 
parents,  and  much  time  faved  by  the  boy,  both  of 
which  are  wafted  by  the  prefent  indifcriminate  and 
prepofterous  mode  of  teaching  the  dead  languages. 

The  idea  of  the  neceffity  of  a  knowledge  of  thofe 
languages,  as  an  introduction  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  Englifh  language,  begins  to  lofe  ground.  It  is 
certainly  a  very  abfurd  one.  We  have  feveral  Englifh 


LATIN  AND  GREEK  LANGUAGES.  55 

fchools  in  our  city,  in  which  boys  and  girls  of  twelve 
and  fourteen  years  old  have  been  taught  to  fpeak  and 
write  our  native  language  with  great  grammatical  pro¬ 
priety.  Some  of  thefe  children  would  difgrace  our 
bachelors  and  matters  of  arts,  who  have  fpent  four  or 
five  years  in  the  ftudy  of  the  Laiin  and  Greek  lan¬ 
guages  in  cur  American  colleges.  It  is  true,  thefe 
Latin  and  Greek  fcholars,  after  a  while,  acquire  a 
knowledge  of  our  language  :  but  it  is  in  the  fame  flow 
way,  in  which  fome  men  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the 
forms  of  good  breeding.  Three  months  inttru£tioii 
will  often  impart  more  of  both,  than  a  whole  life  fpent 
in  acquiring  them  Amply  by  imitation. 

Where  there  is  one  Latin  fcholar,  who  is  obliged, 
in  the  courfe  of  his  life,  to  /peak  or  write  a  Latin 
ientence,  there  are  hundreds  who  are  not  under  that 
neceflity.  Why  then  fhould  we  fpend  years  in  teach- 
ing  that  which  is  fo  rarely  required  in  future  life  ? 
For  fome  years  to  come,  the  reading  of  the  language, 
may  be  neceflary  ,  but  a  young  man  of  fourteen  or 
fifteen,  may  be  taught  to  do  tills  perfectly  in  one 
year,  without  committing  a  Angle  grammar  rule  to 
memory,  or  without  /polling  his  hand  by  writing  a  An¬ 
gle  verfion. 

Much  more,  in  my  opinion,  might  be  faid  in  favour 
of  teaching  our  voung  men  to  fpeak  the  Indian  lan¬ 
guages  of  our  country,  than  to  fpeak  or  write  Latin. # 
J3y  their  means,  they  might  qualify  thcmfelves  to  be¬ 
come  ambafladers  to  our  Indian  nations,  or  introduce 


56  observations  on  the  study,  &c. 

among  them  a  knowledge  of  the  bleiTings  of  civilization 
and  religion. 

We  have  lately  feen  a  large  portion  of  power 

* 

wrefted  from  the  hands  of  kings  and  priefts,  and  ex- 
ercifed  by  its  lawful  owners.  Is  it  not  high  time  to 
wreft  the  power  over  the  education  of  our  youth,  out 
of  the  hands  of  ignorant  or  prejudiced  fchoolmafters,  and 
place  it  in  the  hands  of  men  of  more  knowledge  and 
experience  in  the  affairs  of  the  world  ?  We  talk  much 
of  our  being  an  enlightened  people  \  but  I  know  not 
with  what  reafon,  while  we  tolerate  a  fyftem  of  educa¬ 
tion  in  our  fchools,  which  is  as  difgraceful  to  the 
human  underftanding  as  the  moft  corrupt  tenets  or 
practices  of  the  pagan  religion,  or  of  the  Turkifh  go¬ 
vernment. 

With  great  refpect  for  your  chara£ter,  as  well  as  for 
your  prefent  honourable  and  ufeful  employment,  I 
am,  dear  fir, 

Your  friend  and  moft  obedient  fervant. 

BENJAMIN  RUSH. 

Philadelphia ,  Aiigujl  24,  1 791. 


V 


Thoughts  upon  the  amusements  and  punish. 

MFNTS  WHICH  ARE  PROPER  FOR  SCHOOLS.  AD¬ 
DRESSED  to  George  Clymer,  esq^ 


Dear  Sir, 

laft  time  I  had  the  pleafure  of  being  in 
-2-  your  company,  you  did  me  the  honour  to  re- 
queft  my  opinion  upon  the  Amusements  and  Punish¬ 
ments  which  are  proper  for  fchools  The  fubje&s 
are  of  a  very  oppofite  nature,  but  I  fhall  endeavour 
to  comply  with  your  wifhes,  by  fending  you  a  few 
thoughts  upon  each  of  them.  I  am  fure  you  will 
not  rejeCt  my  opinions  becaufe  they  are  contrary  to 
received  practices,  for  I  know  that  you  are  accuf- 
tomed  to  think  for  yourfelf,  and  that  every  propo¬ 
rtion  that  has  for  its  objeCts  the  intercfts  of  humanity 

and  your  country,  will  be  treated  by  you  with  atten¬ 
tion  and  candor. 

I  fhall  begin  with  the  fubjefts  of  Amusements. 
Montefquieu  informs  us  that  the  exercifes  of  the  laft 
day  of  the  life  of  Epaminondas,  were  the  fame  as  his 
amafemmts  in  his  youth.  Herein  we  have  an  epi¬ 
tome  cf  the  perfection  of  education.  The  amufe- 
iiKnts  of  Epaminondas  were  of  a  military  nature  \ 
but  as  the  profeffion  of  arms  is  the  bufinefs  of  only 
a  part  of  mankind,  and  happily  much  left 

'  I 


> 


58  ON  THE  AMUSEMENTS  AND  PUNISHMENTS 
necellary  in  the  United  States  than  in  ancient 

J  \ 

Greece,  I  would  propofe  that  the  amufements  cf  our 
youtn,  at  fchool,  fhould  confiffc  of  luch  exercifes  as 
will  be  moft  fubfervient  to  their  future  employments 
In  life.  Thefe  are;  i.  agriculture;  2.  mechanical 
occupations;  and  3.  the  bufmefs  of  the  learned  pro- 
fefiicns. 

w  # 

I.  There  is  a  variety  in  the  employments  of  agri¬ 
culture  which  may  readily  be  fuited  to  the  genius, 
tafte,  and  ftrength  of  young  people.  An  experiment 
has  been  made  of  the  efficacy  of  thefe  employments, 
as  amufements,  in  the  Methodift  College  at  Abing- 
ton.  in  Maryland  ;  and,  I  have  been  informed,  with 
the  happieft  effecSls.  A  large  lot  is  divided  between 
the  fcholars,  and  premiums  are  adjudged  to  thofe  of 
them  who  produce  the  moft:  vegetables  from  their 
grounds,  or  who  keep  them  in  the  belt  order. 

II.  As  the  employments  of  agriculture  cannot  af¬ 
ford  amufement  at  all  fealons  of  the  year,  or  in  cities 
I  would  propofe,  that  children  fhould  be  allured  to 
to  feek  amufements  in  fuch  of  the  mechanical  arts 
as  are  fuited  to  their  ftrength  and  capacities.  Where 
is  the  boy  who  does  not  delight  in  the  ufe  of  a  ham- 
mer — a  chiflel — or  a  faw  ?  and  who  has  not  enjoy¬ 
ed  a  high  degree  of  pleafure  in  his  youth,  in  con- 
ftructing  a  miniature  houfe  ?  How  amufing  are  the 

machines  which  are  employed  in  the  manufactory  of 

* 

^loathing  of  all  kinds  !  and  how  full  of  various  en- 


PROPER  FOR  SCHOOLS. 


5? 

tertainment  are  the  mixtures  which  take  place  in  the 
•chemical  aits  !  each  of  thcfe  might  be  contrived  upon 
fuch  a  fcale  as  not  only  to  amufe  young  people,  but 
to  afford  a  profit  to  their  parents  or  mailers.  The 
Moravians;  at  Bethlehem  in  our  ftate,  have  proved 
that  this  propofition  is  not  a  chimerical  one.  All  the 
amufements  of  their  children  are  derived  from  their 
performing  the  fubordinate  parts  of  feveral  of  the 
mechanical  arts ;  and  a  confiderable  portion  of  the 
wealth  of  that  worthy  and  happy  fociety  is  the  pro- 
duel  of  the  labour  of  their  little  hands. — 

If,  in  thefe  amufements,  an  appeal  fhould  be 
made  to  that  fpirit  of  competition  which  is  fo  com¬ 
mon  among  young  people,  it  would  be  the  means  of 
producing  more  pleafure  to  the  children,  and  more 
profit  to  all  who  are  connected  with  them.  The 
wealth  of  thofe  manufacturing;  towns  in  England, 
which  employ  the  children  of  poor  people,  is  a  proof 
of  what  might  be  expected  from  connecting  amufe- 
ment  and  labour  together,  in  all  our  fchools.  The 

i 

produ£t  from  the  labour  obtained  in  this  way,  from 
all  the  fchools  in  the  United  States,  would  amount 
fo  a  fum  which  would  almoft  exceed  calculation. 

III.  To  train  the  youth  who  are  intended  for  the 
learned  profeffions  or  for  merchandize,  to  the  duties 
of  their  future  employments,  by  means  of  ufeful 
amufements,  which  are  related  to  thofe  employments, 
will  be  impracticable  >  but  their  amufements  may  be 


I 

60  ON  THE  AMUSEMENTS  AND  PUNISHMENTS, 

derived  from  cultivating  a  fpot  or  ground  ;  for  where; 

# 

is  the  lawyer,  the  phyfician,  the  divine,  or  the  mer¬ 
chant,  who  has  not  indulged  or  felt  a  pafiion,  ill, 
fome  part  of  his  life,  for  rural  improvements  ? - In¬ 

deed  I  conceive  the  feeds,  of  knowledge  in  agri¬ 
culture  will  be  moft  productive,  when  they  are 
planted  in  the  minds  of  this  dafs  of  fchoiars. 

V  I 

I  have  only  to  add  under  this  head ,  that  the  com¬ 
mon  amufements  of  children  have  no  connection 
with  their  future  occupations.  Many  of  them  injure 
their  cloaths,  fome  of  them  wafte  their  ftrength,  and 
impair  their  health,  and  all  of  them  prove  more  or  lefs, 
the  means  of  producing  noife,  or  of  exciting  angry 
paffions,  both  of  which  are  calculated  to  beget  vulgar 
manners.  The  Methodifts  have  wifely  banifned 
every  fpecies  of  play  from  their  college.  Even  the 
healthy  and  pleafurable  exercife  of  fwimming,  is  not 
permitted  to  their  fchoiars,  except  in  the  prefence 
of  one  of  their  mailers. 

Do  not  think  me  too  flriCl  if  I  here  exclude 
gunning  from  among  the  amufements  of  young  men, 
My  object  ions  to  it  are  as  follow. 

i  It  hardens  the  heart,  by  inniCtirig  unnecefTary 
pam  and  death  upon  animals. 

2-  It  is  unnecefTary  in  civilized  fociety,  where 
animal  food  may  be  obtained  from  clomeflic  animals, 
with  greater  facility. 


PR.0PER  FOR  SCHOOLS. 


6i 

3.  It  confumcs  a  great  deal  of  time,  and  thus 

creates  , habits  of  idlenefs.  * 

^  *  > ,  • 

4.  It  frequently  leads  young,  men  into  low,  and 

bad  company. 

% 

5.  By  impofing  long  abftinencc  from  food,  it  leads 
to  intemperance  in  eating,  which  naturally  leads  to  in¬ 
temperance  in  drinking. 

6.  It  expofes  to  fevers,  and  accidents.  The  news¬ 
papers  are  occafionally  filled  with  melancholy  accounts 
of  the  latter,  and  every  phyfician  mull  have  met  with 

frequent  and  dangerous  in  fiances  of  the  former,  in 
* 

the  courfe  of  his  practice. 

I  know  the  early  ufe  of  a  gun  is  recommended  in 
our  country,  to  teach  our  young  men  the  ufe  of  fire¬ 
arms,  and  thereby  to  prepare  them  for  war  and  battle. 
But  why  fhould  we  infpire  our  youth,  by  fuch  exer- 
cifes,  with  hoflile  ideas  towards  their  fellow  crea¬ 
tures  ? — Let  us  rather  inflill  into  their  minds  fenti- 
ments  of  univerfal  benevolenee  to  men  of  all  nations 
and  colours.  Wars  originate  in  error  and  vice. 
Let  us  eradicate  thefe,  by  proper  modes  of  education, 
and  wars  will  ceafe  to  be  neceflary  in  our  country. 

The  divine  author  and  lover  of  peace  cc  will  then 

/ 

“  fuffer  no  man  to  do  us  wrong  ;  yea,  he  will  re- 
prove  kings  for  our  fake,  faying,  touch  not  my 
“  anointed  and  do  my  people  no  harm/'  Should 
the  nations  with  whom  war  is  a  trade,  approach  our 


6%  ON  THE  AMUSEMENTS  AND  PUNISHMENTS 

coafts,  they  will  retire  from  us,  as  Satan  did  from 
our  Saviour,  when  he  came  to  aflault  him  ;  and  for 
the  fame  reafon,  becaufe  they  will  “  find  .nothing  in 
u  us’"  congenial  to  their  malignant  difpofitions  *,  for  the 
flames  of  war  can  be  fpread  from  one  nation  to  ano¬ 
ther,  only  by  the  conducing  mediums  of  vice  and 
error. 

I  have  hinted  at  the  injury  which  is  done  to  the 
health  of  young  people  by  fome  of  their  amufements; 
but  there  is  a  practice  common  in  all  our  fchools, 
which  does  more  harm  to  their  bodies  than  all  the 
amufements  that  can  be  named,  and  that  b>,  obliging 
them  to  fit  too  long  in  one  placc>  or  crowding  too 
many  of  them  together  in  one  room .  By  means  of  the 
former,  the  growth  and  fhape  of  the  body  have  been 
impaired  *,  and  by  means  of  the  latter,  the  feeds  of 
fevers  have  often  been  engendered  in  fchools.  In  the 
courfe  of  my  bufmefs,  I  have  been  called  to  many 
hundred  children  who  have  been  feized  with  indifpo- 
fitions  in  fchool,  which  evidently  arofe  from  the  ac- 

i 

tion  of  morbid  effluvia,  produced  by  the  confined 
breath  and  perfpiration  of  too  great  a  number  of 
children  in  one  room.  To  obviate  thefe  evils,  chil¬ 
dren  fhould  be  permitted,  after  they  have  faid  their 
lefibns,  to  amufe  themfelves  in  the  open  air,  in  fome 
of  the  ufeful  and  agreeable  cxercifes  which  have  been 

mentioned.  Their  minds  will  be  flrengthened,  as 

*  , 

well  as  their  bodies  relieved  by  them.  To  oblige  a 
fprightly  boy  to  fit  /even  hours  in  a  day,  with  his 


PROPER  FOR  SCHOOLS. 


63 


little  arms  pinioned  to  his  Tides,  and  his  neck  unna¬ 
turally  bent  tov/ards  his  book  *,  and  for  ?io  crime  ! — 
what  cruelty  and  folly  are  manifefted,  by  fuch  an  ab- 
furd  mode  of  inftructing  or  governing  young  peo¬ 
ple  ! 

I  come  next  to  fay  a  few  words  upon  the  fub- 
jetf  of  punishments  which  are  proper  in  fchools. 

In  barbarous  ages  every  thing  partook  of  the  com¬ 
plexion  of  the  times.  Civil,  ecclefiadical,  military, 
and  domeftic  punifhments  were  all  of  a  cruel .  nature. 
With  the  progrefs  of  reafon  and  chridianity,  punifh¬ 
ments  of  all  kinds  have  become  lefs  fevere.  Soli¬ 
tude  and  labour  are  now  fubdituted  in  many  countries, 
with  fucccfs,  in  the  room  of  the  whipping-pod  and 
the  gallows. — The  innocent  infirmities  of  human 
nature  are  no  longer  proferibed,  and  punifhed  by  the 
church.  Difcipline,  confiding  in  the  vigilance  of 
officers,  has  leffened  the  fuppofed  neceffity  of  military 
executions  *,  and  hufbands — fathers — and  maders  now 
blufli  at  the  hidory  of  the  times,  when  wives,  chil¬ 
dren,  and  fervants,  were  governed  only  by  force.  But 
unfox  tunately  this  fpirit  of  humanity  and  civilization 
has  not  reached  our  fchools.  The  rod  is  yet  the 
principal  indrument  of  governing  them,  and  a  fchool- 
mader  remains  the  only  defpot  now  known  in  free 
countries.  Perhaps  it  is  becaufe/the  little  fubjeds  of 
their  arbitrary  and  capricious  power  have  not  been 
in  a  condition  to  complain.  I  fhall  endeavour  there- 


tjA  on  the  amusements  and  punishments 

i  • 

fore  to  plead  their  caufe,  and  to  prove  that  corpo¬ 
ral  puniftimenrs  (except  to  children  under  four  or 
five  years  of  age)  are  never  neceflary,  and  always 
hurtful,  in  fchools. — The  following  arguments  I  hope 
will  be  fufficient  to  eftabliih  this  propofition. 

%  %  j 

1.  Children  are  feidom  fen't  to  fchool  before  they 
are  capable  of  feeling  the  force  of  rational  or  moral 
obligation.  They  may  therefore  be  deterred  from 
committing  offences,  by  motives  lefs  difgraceful 
than  the  fear  of  corporal  punifhments. 

2.  By  correcting  children  lor  ignorance  and  negli¬ 
gence  in  fchool,  their  ideas  of  improper  and  immoral 
actions  are  confounded,  and  hence  the  moral  faculty 
becomes  weakened  in  after  life.  It  would  not  be 
more  cruel  or  abfurd  to  inflict  the  punifhment  of  the 
whipping-poft  upon  a  man,  for  not  dreffirlg  fafhionably 
or  neatly,  than  it  is  to  ferule  a  boy  for  blotting  his 
copy  bock,  or  miff  fuelling  a  word. 

3.  If  the  natural  affection  of  a  parent  is  fometimes 
hifufficient,  to  reftrain  the  violent  effects  of  a  fudden 
guff  of  anger  upon  a  child,  how  dangerous  mull  the 
power  of  correcting  children  be  when  lodged  in  the 
hands  of  a  fchool-mafter,  in  whofe  anger  there  is  no 
mixture  of  parental  affection  !  Perhaps  thofe  parents 

act  moll  wifely,  who  never  truft  themfelves  to  inflict 

* 

corporal  punifhments  upon  their  children,  after  they 
-are  four  or  five  years  old,  but  endeavour  to  puniffi,  and 


PROPER  FOR  SCHOOLS. 


6S 


ieclaim  them,  by  confinement,  or  by  abridging  them 
of  fome  of  their  ufual  gratifications,  in  drefs,  food  or 
amufements. 

'  ■  r  *  . 

4.  Injuries  are  fometimes  done  to  the  bodies* 
and  fometimes  to  the  intellects  of  children,  by  cor¬ 
poral  punifhments.  I  recoiled,  when  a  boy,  to  have 
loft  a  fchool-mate,  who  was  faid  to  have  died  in. 
confequenee  of  a  fevere  whipping  he  received  in  fchool. 
At  that  time  I  did  not  believe  it  pofiible,  but  from 

t. 

what  I  now  know  of  the  difproportion  between  the  vio¬ 
lent  emotions  of  the  mind,  and  the  ftrength  of  the  body 
in  children,  I  am  difpofed  to  believe,  that  not  only 
ficknefs,  but  that  even  death  may  be  induced,  by  the 
convulfions  of  a  youthful  mind,  worked  up  to  a  high 
fenfe  of  fhame  and  refentment. 


,  V  , 

The  effects  of  thumping  the  head,  boxing  the  ears* 
and  pulling  the  hair,  in  impairing  the  intellects,  by  l 
means  of  injuries  done  to  the  brain,  are  too  obvious 
to  be  mentioned. 


5.  Where  there  is  Jhame ,  fays  Dr.  johnfon,  there 
may  be  virtue .  But  corporal  puniftiments,  inflicted  at 
fchool,  have  a  tendency  to  deftroy  the  fenfe  of  fhame, 
and  thereby  to  deftroy  all  moral  fenfibility.  The  boy 
that  has  been  often  publicly  whipped  at  fchool,  is 
under  great  obligations  to  his  maker,  and  his  parents, 
if  he  afterwards  efcape  the  whipping-poft  or  the  ga U 


K 


I 


%6  ON  THE  .AMUSEMENTS  AND  PUNISHMENTS 

6.  Corporal  punittiments,  inflidted  at  fchool,  tend 
to  beget  a  fpirit  of  violence  in  boys  towards  each  other, 
which  often  follows  them  through  life  ;  but  they  more 
certainly  beget  a  fpirit  of  hatred,  6r  revenge,  towards 

/  .a 

their  matters,  which  too  often  becomes  a  ferment  of 
the  fame  baneful  paffions  towards  other  people. 
‘The  celebrated  Dr.  afterwards  Baron  Haller  declared, 
that  he  never  faw,  without  horror,  during  the  remain¬ 
ing  part  of  his  life,  a  fchool-mafler,  who  had  treat¬ 
ed  him  with  unmerited  feverity,  when  he  was  only  ten 
years  old.  A  fimilar  anecdote  is  related  of  the  famous 
M.  de  Condamine.  I  think  I  have  known  feveral 
inftances  of  this  vindidtive,  or  indignant  fpirit,  to 
continue  towards  a  cruel  and  tyrannical  fchool-mafter, 
in  perfons  who  were  advanced  in  life,  and  who  were 
#  otherwife  of  gentle  and  forgiving  difpofitions. 

7.  Corporal  punifhments,  inflidted  at  fchools,  beget 
a  hatred  to  inftrudtion  in  young  people.  I  have  fome- 
times  fufpedted  that  the  Devil,  who  knows  how  great 
an  enemy  knowledge  is  to  his  kingdom,  has  had  the 
addrefs  to  make  the  world  believe  that  ferruling ;  pulling 
and  boxing  ears.)  cudgelling ,  horfmg)  &c.  and,  in  boarding- 
fchools,  a  little  flawing ,  are  all  abfolutely  neceflary 
for  the  government  of  young  people,  on  purpofe 
that  he  might  make  both  fchools,  and  fchool-mafters 
odious,  and  thereby  keep  our  world  in  ignorance;  for 
ignorance  is  the  belt  means  the  Devil  ever  contrived, 
to  keep  up  the  number  of  his  fubjedts  in  our  world* 


1 


PROPER  FOR  SCHOOLS. 


67 


8.  Corporal  puniftiments  are  not  only  hurtful,  but 
altogether  unnecefiary,  in  fchools.  Some  of  the  moft 
celebrated  and  fuccesful  fchool-mafters,  that  I  have 
known,  never  made  ufe  of  them. 

9.  The  fear  of  corporal  punifhments,  by  debilitating 
the  body,  produces  a  correfponding  debility  in  the 
mind,  which  contracts  its  capacity  of  acquiring  know¬ 
ledge.  This  capacity  is  enlarged  by  the  tone  which 
the  mind  acquires  from  the  action  of  hope,  love,  and 
confidence  upon  it ;  and  all  thefe  paffions  might  eafi- 
ly  be  cherifhed,  by  a  prudent  and  enlightened  fchool- 
mafter. 

10.  As  there  fhould  always  be  a  certain  ratio  be? 
tween  the  ftrength  of  a  remedy,  and  the  excitability  of 
the  body  in  difeafes,  fo  there  fhould  be  a  fimilar  ratio 
between  the  force  employed  in  the  government  of  a 
fchool,  and  the  capacites  and  tempers  of  children. 
A  kind  rebuke,  like  frefh  air  in  a  fainting  fit,  is  calcu¬ 
lated  to  aft  upon  a  young  mind  with  more  efFeft,  than 
flimulants  of  the  greatefh  power;  but  corporal  punijh- 
ments  level  all  capacities  and  tempers,  as  quack-me- 
dicines  do,  all  conflitutions  and  difeafes.  They 
difhonour  and  degrade  our  fpecies  ;  for  they  fuppofe  a 
total  abfence  of  all  moral  and  intelleftual  feeling  from 
the  mind.  Have  we  not  often  feen  dull  children  fud- 
denly  improve,  by  changing  their  fchools  ?  The 
reafon  is  obvious.  The  fuccesful  teacher  only 
accommodated  his  manner  and  difcipline  to  the 
capacities  of  his  fcholars. 


ON  THE  AMUSEMENTS  AND  PUNISHMENTS 

ii.  I  conceive  corporal  punifhments,  inflidled  in 
an  arbitrary  manner,  to  be  contrary  to  the  fpirit  of 
liberty,  and  that  they  fhould  not  be  tolerated  in  a  free 
government.  Why  fhould  not  children  be  protefted 
from  violence  and  injuries,  as  well  as  white  and  black 
fervants  ? — Had  I  influence  enough  in  our  legiflature 
to  obtain  only  a  Angle  law,  it  fhould  be  to  make  the 
punifhment  for  fir  iking  a  fchool  boy,  the  fame  as  for 
afiaulting  and  beating  an  adult  member  o i  fociety. 

To  all  thefe  arguments  I  know  fome  well  difpofed 
people  will  reply,  that  the  rod  has  received  a  divine 
commiflion  from  the  facred  Scriptures,  as  the  inftru- 
ment  of  correcting  children.  To  this  I  anfwer  that 
the  rods  in  the  Old  Teftament,  by  a  very  common  figure 

in  Rhetoric,  (lands  for  punifhments  of  any  kind,  juft 

.  *  ^  '  *  ■  .  .  • 

as  the  /wordy  in  the  New  Teftament,  (lands  for  the 
faithful  and  general  adminiflration  of  juftice,  in  fuch 
a  way  as  is  mod  calculated  to  reform  criminals,  and 

J  #  i  -  '  •  •  .  - ; ‘ 

to  prevent  crimes 

The  following  method  of  governing  a  fchool,  I 
apprehend,  v/ould  be  -  attended  with  much  better  ef¬ 
fects,  than  that  which  I  have  endeavoured  to  fhew  to 
be  contrary  to  reafon,  humanity,  religion,  liberty,  and 
the  experience  of  the  wifcfl  and  beft  teachers  in  the 
world. 

Let  a  fchool-mafler  endeavour,  in  the  firfl  place,  to 
acquire  the  confidence  of  his  fcholars,  by  a  prudent 
deportment.  Let  him  learn  to  command  his  paffions 


PROPER  FOR  SCHOOLS. 


69 


and  temper,  at  all  times,  in  his  fchool, — Let  him  treat 
the  name  of  the  Supreme  Being  with  reverence,  as 
often  as  it  occurs  in  books,  or  in  converfation  with 
his  fcholars. — Let  him  exaft  a  rcfpcctful  behaviour 
towards  himfelf,  in  his  fchool ;  but  in  the  intervals  of 
fchool  hours,  let  him  treat  his  fcholars  with  gentlenefs 
and  familiarity.  If  he  fhould  even  join  in  their  amufe- 
ments,  he  would  not  loofe,  by  his  condefcenfion,  any 
part  of  his  authority  over  them.  -  But  to  fecure  their 
affe£tion  and  refpeft  more  perfectly,  let  him,  once  or 
twice  a  year,  lay  out  a  fmall  fum  of  money  in  pen¬ 
knives,  and  books,  and  diftribute  them  among  his  fcho¬ 
lars,  as  rewards  for  proficiency  in  learning,  and  for 
good  behaviour.  If  thefe  prudent  and  popular  meafures 
fhould  fail  of  preventing  offences  at  fchool,  then  let 
the  following  modes  of  punifhment  be  adopted. 

1.  Private  admonition.  By  this  mode  of  rebuking, 
we  imitate  the  conduct  of  the  divine  Being  towards  his 
offending  creatures,  for  his  jirji  punifhment  is  always 
inflifted  privately,  by  means  of  the  Jlill  voice  of  con- 
fcience. 

.  .  -  '  » 

2.  Confinement  after  fchoobhours  are  ended;  but 
with  the  knowledge  of  the  parents  of  the  children. 

3.  Holding  a  fmall  fign  ofdifgrace,  of  any  kind,  in 
the  middle  of  the  floor,  in  the  prefence  of  a  whole 
fchool. 


70  ON  THE  AMUSEMENTS  AND  PUNISHMENTS 

If  thefe  punifhments  fail  of  reclaiming  a  bad  boy,  he 
fhould  be  difmifled  from  fchool,  to  prevent  his  cor-? 
rupting  his  fchool-m-ates.  It  is  the  bufmefs  of  parents, 
and  not  of  fchool-mafters,  to  ufe  the  laft  means  for 
eradicating  idlenefs  and  vice  from  their  children. 

The  world  was  created  in  love.  It  is  fuftained  by 
love.  Nations  and  families  that  are  happy,  are  made 
fo  only  by  love.  Let  us  extend  this  divine  principle, 
to  thofe  little  communities  which  we  call  fchools. 
Children  are  capable  of  loving  in  a  high  degree.  They 
may  therefore  be  governed  by  love. 

The  occupation  of  a  fchool-mafter  is  truly  dignified. 
He  is,  next  to  mothers,  the  moft  important  member  of 
civil  fociety.  Why  then  is  there  fo  little  rank  con¬ 
nected  with  that  occupation  ?  Why  do  we  treat  it 
with  fo  much  negledt  or  contempt  ?  It  is  becaufe  the 
voice  of  reafon,  in  the  human  heart,  affociates  with  it 
the  idea  of  defpotifm  and  violence.  Let  fchooh  matters 
ceafe  to  be  tyrants,  and  they  will  foon  enjoy  the  refpedt 
and  rank,  which  are  naturally  connected  with  their 
profefiion. 

We  are  grofiy  miftaken  in  looking  up  wholiy  to  our 
governments,  and  even  to  minifters  of  the  gofpel,  to  pro¬ 
mote  public  and  private  order  in  fociety.  Mothers  and 
fchool-mafters  plant  the  feeds  of  nearly  all  the  good 
and  evil  which  exift  in  our  world.  Its  reformation 
muft  therefore  be  begun  in  nurferies  and  in  fchools. 
It  the  habits  we  acquire  there,  were  to  have  no  influence 


PROPER  FOR  SCHOOLS. 


7* 


tojton  our  future  happinefs,  yet  the  influence  they  have 

Upon  our  governments,  is  a  fufficient  reafon  why  we 

* 

ought  to  introduce  new  modes,  as  well  as  new  objects 
of  education  into  our  country. 

You  have  lately  been  employed  in  an  attempt  to 
perpetuate  our  exiltence  as  a  free  people,  by  eftabl idl¬ 
ing  the  means  of  national  credit  and  defence  *,  *  but 
thefe  are  feeble  bulwarks  againft  flavery,  compared 
with  habits  of  labour  and  virtue,  difleminated  among 
our  young  people;  Let  us  eftablifh  fchools  for  this 
purpofe,  in  every  townfhip  in  the  United  States,  and 
conform  them  to  reafon,  humanity,  and  the  prefent 
ftate  of  fociety  in  America;  Then,  Sir,  will  the 
generations  who  are  to  follow  us,  realize  the  precious 
ideas  of  the  dignity  and  excellence  of  republican  forms 
of  government,  which  I  well  recollect  you  cherifhed 
with  fo  much  ardor,  in  the  beginning  of  the  American 
revolution,  and  which  you  have  manifefted  ever  fince, 
both  by  your  public  and  private  conduct. 

We  fuffer  fo  much  from  traditional  error  of  various 
kinds,  in  education,  morals,  and  government,  that  I 
have  been  led  to  wifn,  that  it  were  polfible  for  us  to 
have  fchools  eftablifhed,  in  the  United  States,  for 
teaching  the  art  of  forgetting .  I  think  three-fourths  of 
all  our  fchool- matters,  divines,  and  legiflators  would 

*  Mr.  Clymer  was  one  of  the  Rcprefentativcs  of  Pennfyl vania,  in  the 
firft  Congrefs  of  the  United  States  which  met  in  New  York,  in  the 
year  1789. 


72  ON  THE  AMUSEMENTS  AND  PUNISHMENT* 


profit  very  much,  by  fpending  two  or  three  years  iri 
fuch  ufeful  inftitutiorts. 

An  apology  may  feem  neceflary,  not  only  for  the 
length  of  this  letter,  but  for  fame  of  the  opinions 
contained  in  it.  I  know  how  apt  mankind  are  to 
brand  every  propofition  for  innovation,  as  vifionary 
and  Utopian.  But  good  men  fhould  not  be  difeouraged, 
by  fuch  epithets,  from  trteir  attempts  to  combat  vice 
and  error.  There  never  was  an  improvement,  in  any 
art  or  fcience,  nor  even  a  propofal  for  meliorating  the 
condition  of  mart,  in  any  age  or  country,  that  has  not 
been  confidered  in  the  light  of  what  has  been  called, 
nnce  Sir.  Thomas  More’s  time,  an  Utopian  fcheme. 
The  application  of  the  magnet  to  navigation,  and  of 
(leam  to  mechanical  purpofes,  have  both  been  branded 
as  Utopian  projects.  The  great  idea  in  the  mind  of 
Columbus,  of  exploring  a  new  world,  was  long  viewed, 
in  mod  of  the  courts  of  Europe,  as  the  dream  of  a, 
vifionary  failor.  But  why  do  we  go  to  an  cient  times, 
for  proofs  of  important  innovations  in  human  affairs 
having  been  treated  as  Utopian  fchemes.  You  and 
I  recollect  the  time,  when  the  abolition  of  negro  flavery 
in  our  Hate,  as  alfo  when  the  independence  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  prefent  wife  and  happy  confed¬ 
eracy  of  our  republics,  were  all  confidered  by  many  of 
our  fober  prudent  men,  as  fubjedts  of  an  Utopian 
nature* 


PROPER  POR  SCHOOLS.  73 

If  thofc  benefactors  of  mankind,  who  have  levelled 
mountains  in  the  great  road  of  human  life,  by  the 
difeoveries  or  labours  which  have  been  mentioned, 
have  beeen  ftigmatized  with  obloquy,  as  vifionary 
projectors,  why  fhoiild  an  individual  be  afraid  of 
fimilar  treatment,  who  has  only  attempted  to  give  to 
that  road,  from  its  beginning,  a  ftraight  direction. 

If  but  a  dozen  men  like  yourfelf,  approve  of  my 
opinions,  it  will  overbalance  the  moft  illiberal  oppofi- 
tion  they  may  meet  with,  from  all  the  learned  vulgar 
of  the  United  States. 

'  •  V  ■  ,  ,  t  :  hn  f  f/  r 

*  T  *•  ‘  X  '  L  4  j  L-  I 

For  the  benefit  of  thofe  perfons  who  confider  opinions 
as  improved,  like  certain  liquors,  by  time  *,  and  who 
are  oppofed  to  innovations,  only  becaufe  they  did  not 
occur  to  their  anceflors,  I  fhall  conclude  my  letter  with 
an  anecdote  of  a  minifter  in  London,  who,  after  em- 

i 

ploying  a  long  fermon,  in  controverting  what  he 
fuppofed  to  be  an  heretical  opinion,  concluded  it  with 
the  following  words,  u  I  tell  you,  I  tell  you  my  bre- 
“  thren, — I  tell  you  again, — that  an  old  error  is  better 

than  a  new  truth/* 

With  great  regard  I  am, 

Dear  Sir, 

Your’s  fincerely, 
BENJAMIN  RUSH, 
Philadelphia ,  Augujl  2-0 th,  179O. 


L 


i 


74  ON  Ithe  amusements,  &c. 

P.  S.  Since  writing  the  above  letter,  an  ingenious 
German  friend  of  mine  has  informed  me,  that  a  curious 
work  has  lately  appeared  in  Germany,  entitled,  “  A 
“  treatife  on  human  mifery,”  written  by  a  Mr.  Salz- 
man,  an  enlightened  fchooi-mafter,  in  which  a  ftriking 
tiew  is  given  of  the  mifery  inflicted  upon  part  of  the 
human  race,  by  the  prefent  abfurd,  and  cruel  modes  of 
conducting  education  in  public  fchools.  The  author 

*  -  '  *  *  *  r 

concludes  this  part  of  his  work,  my  friend  informs  me, 
with  a  dream,  in  which  he  beholds  with  ineffable  joy, 
the  avenging  angel  defcending  from  heaven,  and  after¬ 
wards  confuming  in  an  immenfe  bonfire,  certain  abfurd 
fchool-books,  and  all  the  ferrules  in  the  world. 

*  r  *  ‘  *  « 

.  •  .  C  ■/ 1  *  t  ..  » i  ’  .0  *  '  >  I  --  «  . 

'  ’  v!;xo  .  *  ;  i.t  ■;  -r- 

V  v  ’Jr  * 

•  *  r  M»  j  r-  j 


/ 


Thoughts  upon  female  edu  cat  ion*  accommodat* 

» 

ED  TO  THE  PRESENT  STATE  OF  SOCIETY,  MANNERS, 
AND  GOVERNMENT,  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF 

America.  Addressed  to  the  visitors  of  the 

YOUNG  LADIES5  ACADEMY  IN  PHILADELPHIA,  28tll 
JULY,  1787,  AT  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  QUARTERLY 
EXAMINATION,  AND  AFTERWARDS  PUBLISHED  AT 
THE  REQUEST  OF  THE  VISITORS. 


GENTLEMEN, 

I  HAVE  yielded  with  diffidence  to  the  felicita¬ 
tions  of  the  Principal  of  the  Academy,  in 
undertaking  to  exprefs  my  regard  for  the  profperity  of 
this  femmary  of  learning,  by  fubmitting  to  your  candor, 
a  few  Thoughts  upon  Female  Education. 

The  firft  remark  that  I  lhallmake  upon  this  fubje£t, 
js,  that  female  education  fhculd  be  accommodated  to  the 
ftate  of  fociety,  manners,  and  government  of  the  coun¬ 
try,  in  which  it  is  conducted. 

This  remark  leads  me  at  once  to  add,, that  the  educati¬ 
on  of  young  ladies,  in  this  country,  fhould  De  conducted 
upon  principles  very  different  from  what  it  is  in  Great 
Britain,  and  in  fome  refpects,  different  from  what  it  was 
when  we  were  part  of  a  monarchical  empire. 

There  are  feverai  circumftances  in  the  fituation,  em¬ 
ployments,  and  duties  of  women  in  America,  which 
require  a  peculiar  mode  of  education. 


76 


THOUGHTS  UPON 


I.  The  early  marriages  of  our  women,  by  contracting 
the  time  allowed  for  education,  renders  it  neceflary  to 
conti  aft  its  plan,  and  to  confine  it  chiefly  to  the  more 
ufeful  branches  of  literature* 

II.  The  ftate  of  property  in  America,  renders  it 
neceflary  for  the  greateft  part  of  our  citizens  to  employ 
themfelves,  in  different  occupations,  for  the  advance* 
ment  of  their  fortunes.  This  cannot  be  done  without 
the  affiftance  of  the  female  members  of  the  community. 
They  mufl  be  the  Rewards,  and  guardians  of  their 
hufbands’  property.  That  education,  therefore,  will 
be  moll  proper  for  our  women,  which  teaches  them  to 
difeharge  the  duties  of  thofe  offices  with  the  moft 
fuccefs  and  reputation. 

*  .  t 

III.  From  the  numerous  avocations  from  their 
families,  to  which  profeffional  life  expofes  gentlemen 
in  America,  a  principal  fhare  cf  the  inftruClion  of 
children  naturally  devolves  upon  the  women.  It  be¬ 
comes  us  therefore  to  prepare  them  by  a  fuitable 
education,  for  the  difeharge  of  this  rnoft  important  duty 
of  mothers. 

IV.  'The  equal  fhare  that  every  citizen  has  in  the 
liberty,  and  the  poffible  (hare  he  may  have  in  the 
government  of  our  country,  make  it  neceflary  that  our 
ladies  fhould  be  qualified  to  a  certain  degree  by  a  pecu- 


FEMALE  EDUCATION. 


77 


liar  and  fuitable  education,  to  concur  in  inftruCting 
their  fons  in  the  principles  of  liberty  and  government. 

V.  In  Great  Britain  the  bufinefs  of  fervants  is  a 
regular  occupation  ;  but  in  America  this  humble  ftation 
is  the  ufual  retreat  of  unexpected  indigence;  lienee 
the  fervants  in  this  country  poflefs  lefs  knowledge  and 
fubordination  than  are  required  from  them;  and  lienee, 

•  4  #  ,  •  •  « 

our  ladies  are  obliged  to  attend  more  to  the  private  af¬ 
fairs  of  their  families,  than  ladies  generally  do,  of  the 

.  *  *  *  »  — 

fame  rank  in  Great  Britain.  “  They  are  good  fervants/* 
faid  an  American  lady  of  diftinguifhed  merit,  #  in  a 
letter  to  a  favorite  daughter,  §  “  who  will  do  well  with 
<c  good  looking  after.”  This  circumftance  fhould 
have  great  influence  upon  the  nature  and  extent  of 
female  education  in  America. 

The  branches  cf  literature  mod  eflential  for  a  young 
lady  in  this  country,  appear  to  be, 

% 

I.  A  knowledge  of  the  English  language.  She 
fhould  not  only  read,  but  fpeak  and  fpell  it  correCHy. 
And  to  enable  her  to  do  this,  die  fhould  be  taught 
the  Englifh  grammar,  and  be  frequently  examined  ir* 
applying  its  rules  in  common  converfation. 

II.  Pleafure  and  intereft  confpire  to  make  the 
writing  of  a  fair  and  legible  hand,  a  neceflary  branch  of 
a  lady’s  education.  For  this  purpofe  fhe  fhould  be 

*  Mrs.  Graeme. 

§  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Fcrgufon. 


THOUGHTS  UFON 


98 

taught  not  only  to  fliape  every  letter  properly,  but 
pay  the  ftricleft  regard  to  points  and  capitals.* 

I  once  heard  of  a  man  who  profefled  to  difcover 
the  temper  and  difpofition  of  pcrfons  by  looking  at 
their  hand  writing.  Without  enquiring  into  the  pro¬ 
bability  of  this  ftory;  I  fhall  only  remark,  that  there 
is  one  thing  in  which  all  mankind  agree  upon  this 
fubjecft,  and  that  is,  in  confidering  writing  that  is  blot¬ 
ted,  crooked,  or  illegible,  as  a  mark  of  vulgar  educa¬ 
tion.  I  know  of  few  things  more  rude  or  illiberal, 

> 

than  to  obtrude  a  letter  upon  a  perfon  of  rank  or  bufi- 

* 

nefs,  which  cannot  be  eafily  read.  Peculiar  care 

i 

fhould  be  taken  to  avoid  every  kind  of  ambiguity  ancj 

* 

affectation  in  writing  names .  I  haye  now  a  letter  in  my 

polTeffion  upon  bufinefs,  from  a  gentleman  of  a  liberal 

• 

profeflion  in  a  neighbouring  ftate,  which  I  am  unable 
to  anfwer,  becaufe  I  cannot  difcover  the  name  which  is 

fubfcribed  to  it.  +  For  obvious  reafons  I  would  recom- 

> 

*  The  yrefent  mode  of  writing  among  perfons  of  tafte  is  to  ufe  a  ca¬ 
pital  letter  only  for  the.  firft  word  of  a  fentence,  and  for  names  of  perfons, 
places  and  months,  and  for  the  firft  word  of  every  line  in  poetry.  The 
words  fhould  be  fo  fliaped  that  a  ftraight  line  may  be  drawn  between  two, 
lines,  without  touching  the  extremities  of  the  words  in  either  of  them. 

-j-  Dr.  Franklin  received  many  letters  while  he  was  in  France  during 
the  American  war,  from  perfons  who  wifhed  to  migrate  to  America,  and 
who  appeared  to  pcfTefs  knowledge  and  talents  that  would  have  been  ufe- 
ful  to  his  country,  buttheir  names  were  fubfcribed  to  their  letters  in  fy 
artificial  and  affedled  a  manner,  that  he  was  unable  to  decypher  them,  and 
of  courfe,  did  not  anfwer  them. 


FEMALE  EDUCATION.  79 

friend  the  writing  of  the  firft  or  chriftian  name  at  full 
length,  where  it  does  not  confift  of  more  than  two 

fyllables.  Abbreviations  of  all  kind  in  letter  writing, 

, 

which  always  denote  either  hafte  or  cnrleffiiefs,  ftiou’d 

. 

likewife  be  avoided.  I  have  only  to  add  under  this 
head  that  the  Italian  and  inverted  hands  which  are  read 
with  difficulty,  are  by  no  means  accommodated  to  the 
active  ftate  of  bufinefs  in  America,  or  to  the  fimplici- 
ty  of  the  citizens  of  a  republic. 

III.  Some  knowledge  of  figures  and  book-keeping 
is  abfolutely  necefiary  to  qualify  a  young  lady  for  the 
duties  which  await  her  in  this  country.  There  are 
certain  occupations  in  which  (he  may  affift  her  hufband 
with  this  knowledge  *,  and  ihould  {he  furvive  him,  and 
agreeably  to  the  cuftom  of  our  country  be  the  execu¬ 
trix  of  his  will,  {lie  cannot  fail  of  deriving  immenfe 
advantages  from  it. 

IV.  An  acquaintance  with  geography  and  fome  in- 
(trufhon  in  chronology  will  enable  a  young  lady  to 

I  * 

read  hiftory,  biography,  and  travels,  with  advantage  ; 
and  thereby  qualify  her  not  only  for  a  general  inter- 
courfe  with  the  world,  but  to  be  an  agreeable  com- 

1  f 

panion  for  a  fenfible  man.  To  thefe  branches  cf 
knowledge  may  be  added,  in  fome  inftances;  a  general 
acquaintance  with  the  firft  principles  of  aftronomy 
natural  philofophy  and  chemiftry,  particularly,  with  fuch 
parts  of  them  as  are  calculated  to  prevent  fuperftition, 

1’ 

by  explaining  the  caufes,  or  obviating  the  effefls  of 


So 


THOUGHTS  UPON 


of  natural  evil,  and  fu ch,  as  are  capable  of  being  ap* 
plied  to  domeftic,  and  culinary  purpofes. 

V.  Vocal  mufic  fhould  never  be  negle£ted,  in  the 

|  #  >  *  .  '  .  *  m 

education  of  a  young  lady,  in  this  country*  Befides 
preparing  her  to  join  in  that  part  of  public  worfhip 
which  confifts  in  pfalmody,  it  will  enable  her  to  foothe 

the  cares  of  dome  ft  ic  life.  The  diftrefs  and  vexation 

~  v  ■’  •  ^  %  s 

of  a  huiband — the  noife  of  a  nuf fey,  and,  even,  the 

•  * 

the  forrows  that  will  fometimes  intrude  into  her  own 
bofom,  may  all  be  relieved  by  a  fong,  where  found  and 
fentiment  unite  to  act  upon  the  mind.  I  hope  it 
will  not  be  thought  foreign  to  this  part  of  our  fubject 
to  introduce  a  fadl  here  which  has  been  fuggefted  to 
me  by  my  profeflion,  and  that  is,  that  the  exercife  of 
the  organs  of  the  bread,  by  Tinging,  contributes  very 
much  to  defend  them  from  thofe  difeafes  to  which  our 
climate*  and  other  caufes,  have  of  late  expofed  them. — - 
Our  German  fellow  citizens  are  feldom  affii&ed  with 
confumptions,  nor  have  I  ever  known  but  one  inftance 
of  fpitting  of  blood  among  them.  This,  I  believe,  i9 
in  part  occafioned  by  the  ftrength  which  their  lungs 
acquire,  by  exercifing  them  frequently  in  vocal  mufic, 
for  this  conftitutes  an  effential  branch  of  their  educate 
on.  The  mufic-mafter  of  our  academy j:  has  furniflied 
me  with  2n  obfervation  {till  more  in  favour  of  this 
opinion.  He  informed  me  that  he  had  known 
feveral  infcances  of  perfons  who  were  ftrongly  dif- 
pofed  to  the  confumption,  who  were  reftored  to  health, 
by  the  moderate  exercile  of  their  lungs  in  finging. 

|  Mr.  Adgate, 


FEMALE  EDUCATION. 


VI.  Dancing  is  by  no  means  an  improper  branch 
of  education  for  an  American  lady.  It  promotes 
health,  arid  renders  the  figure  and  motions  of  the  body 

%  eafy  and  agreeable.  I  anticipate  the  time  when  the 
refources  of  converfation  fhall  be  fo  far  multiplied, 
that  the  amufement  of  dancing  fhall  be  wholly  con¬ 
fined  to  children.  But  in  our  prefent  ftate  of  fociety 
and  knowledge,  I  conceive  it  to  be  an  agreeable  fub- 
ftitute  for  the  ignoble  pleafures  of  drinking,  and 
gaming,  in  our  afiemblies  of  grown  people. 

VII.  The  attention  of  our  young  ladies  fhould  be 
dire&ed,  as  foon  as  they  are  prepared  for  it,  to  the 
reading  of  hiflory — travels— poetry — and  moral  eflays. 
Thefe  ftudies  are  accommodated,  in  a  peculiar  manner, 
to  the  prefent  ftate  of  fociety  in  America,  and  when 
a  relifh  is  excited  for  them,  in  early  life,  they  fubdue 
that  paffion  for  reading  novels,  which  fo  generally 
prevails  among  the  fair  fex.  I  cannot  difmifs  this  fpe- 
cies  of  writing  and  reading  without  obferving,  that 
the  fubje£ts  of  novels  are  by  no  means  accommodated 
to  our  prefent  manners.  They  hold  up  life ,  it  is  true, 
but  it  is  not  as  yet  life  in  America.  Our  paflions 
have  not  as  yet  "  overftepped  the  modefty  of  nature.” 
nor  are  they  cc  torn  to  tatters,”  to  ufe  the  expreflions 
of  the  poet,  by  extravagant  love,  jealoufy,  ambition, 
or  revenge.  As  yet  the  intrigues  of  a  Britifh  novel, 
are  as  foreign  to  our  manners,  as  the  refinements  of 
Afiatic  vice.  Let  it  not  be  faid,  that  the  tales  of  dif-  • 


M 


I 


82  THOUGHTS  UFON 

1 

trefs,  which  fill  modern  novels,  have  a  tendency  td 
foften  the  female  heart  into  a£ts  of  humanity.  The 
faff  is  the  reverfe  of  this.  The  abortive  fympathy 
which  is  excited  by  the  recital  of  imaginary  diftrefs, 
blunts  the  heart  to  that  which  is  real  ;  and,  hence,  we 
fometimes  fee  inftances  of  young  ladies,  who  weep 
away  a  whole  forenoon  over  the  criminal  forrows  of  a 
fictitious  Charlotte  or  We?ter,  turning  with  difdain 
at  three  o’clock  from  the  fight  of  a  beggar,  who  fo* 
licits  in  feeble  accents  or  figns,  a  fmall  portion  only  of 
the  crumbs  which  fall  from  their  fathers’  tables. 

, 

VIII.  It  will  be  neceffary  to  connect  all  thefe 
branches  of  education  with  regular  inftru&ion  in  the 
chriftian  religion.  For  this  purpofe  the  principles  of 
the  different  feels  of  chriftians  fhould  be  taught  and 
explained,  and  our  pupils  fhould  early  be  furnifhed 
with  fome  of  the  mod  fimple  arguments  in  favour  of 
the  truth  of  chriftianity*.  A  portion  of  the  bible 
(of  1  ate  improperly  banifhed  from  our  fchools)fhould 
be  read  by  them  every  day,  and  fuch  queftions  fhould  * 
be  aiked,  after  reading  it  as  are  calculated  to  imprint 
upon  their  minds  the  interefting  ftories  contained  in 
it. 

« 

PwOuffeau  has  afferted  that  the  great  fecret  of  edu¬ 
cation  confifts  in  u  wafting  the  time  of  children  pro- 

'  *  i  ' 

*  Baron  Haller’s  letters  to  his  daughter  on  the  truths  of  the  chriftian 
religion,  and  Dr.  Beatie’s  (t  evidences  of  the  chriftian  religion  briefly 
*  and  plainly  ftated  ”  are  excellent  little  tradts,  and  well  adaptjd  for  this 
purpofe. 


FEMALE  EDUCATION. 


33 

fitably.”  There  is  fome  truth  in  this  obfervation.  I 

m 

believe  that  we  often  impair  their  health,  and  weaken 
their  capcities,  by  impoling  ftudies  upon  them,  which 
are  not  proportioned  to  their  years.  But  this  objec¬ 
tion  does  not  apply  to  religious  inflrucfion.  There 
are  certain  Ample  propofitions  in  the  chriftian  religion, 
which  are  fuited  in  a  peculiar  manner,  to  the  infant 
ftate  of  reafon  and  moral  fenfibility.  A  clergyman 
of  long  experience  in  the  inftrudtion  of  youth  j  in¬ 
formed  me,  that  he  always  found  children  acquired 
religious  knowledge  more  eafily  than  knowledge  upon 
other  fubjedts  5  and  that  young  girls  acquired  this  kind 
of  knowledge  more  readily  than  boys.  The  female 
breaft  is  the  natural  foil  of  chriftianity ;  and  while 
our  women  are  taught  to  believe  its  doctrines,  and  obey 
its  precepts,  the  wit  of  Voltaire,  and  the  ftile  of  Boling- 
broke,  will  never  be  able  to  deftroy  its  influence  upon 
our  citizens. 

I  cannot  help  remarking  in  this  place,  that  chrif¬ 
tianity  exerts  the  mod  friendly  influence  upon  Icience, 
as  well  as  upon  the  morals  and  manners  of  mankind. 
Whether  this  be  occafioned  by  the  unity  of  truth, 
and  the  mutual  afliftance  which  truths  upon  different 
fubjedts  afford  each  other,  or  whether  the  faculties  of 
the  mind  be  fharpened  and  corrected  by  embracing  . 
the  truths  of  revelation,  and  thereby  prepai*ed  to  in- 
veftigate  and  perceive  truths  upon  other  fubjecls,  I 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Nicholas  Collin’,  minifter  of  the  Svvedifh  church 
hi  Wicocoe. 


S 4 


THOUGHTS  UPON 


will  not  determine,  but  I  believe  that  the  greateft 
difcoveries  in  fcience  have  been  made  by  chriftian 
philofopher-s,  and  that  there  is  the  moft  knowledge  in 
thofe  countries  where  there  is  the  moft  chriftianity.* 
If  this  remark  be  well  founded,  then  thofe  philofophers 
who  rejedl:  chriftianity,  and  thofe  chriftians,  whether 
parents  or  fchool-mafters,  who  negledl  the  religious 
inftruction  of  their  children  and  pupils,  reject  and  ne¬ 
glect  the  moft  effectual  means  of  promoting  know¬ 
ledge  in  our  country. 

IX.  If  the  meafures  that  have  been  recommended 

for  infpiring  our  pupils  with  a  fenfe  of  religious  and 

• 

moral  obligation  be  adopted,  the  government  of  them 
will  be  eafy  and  agreeable.  I  fliall  only  remark  under 
this  head,  that  JtriEinefs  of  difcipline  will  always  render 
feverity  unneceflary,  and  that  there  will  be  the  moft 
inftrudlion  in  that  fchool,  where  there  is  the  moft 

•  i  •,  ’  i  •  i- 

order. 

I  have  faid  nothing  in  favour  of  inftrumental  mufic 
as  a  branch  of  female  education,  becaufe  I  conceive 

*  This  is  true  in  a  peculiar  manner  in  the  fcience  of  medecine.  A 
youzg  Scotch  phyfician  of  enterprizing  talents,  who  conceived  a  high  idea 
of  the  (bate  of  medecine  in  the  eaftern  countries,  fpent  two  years  in  enqui¬ 
ries  af:er  medical  knowledge  in  Conftantinople,  and  Grand  Cairo.  On 

€ 

his  return  to  Britain  he  confeffcd  to  an  American  phyfician  whom  he  met 
at  Naples,  that  after  all  his  refearches  and  travels,  he  i(  had  difeovered 
c:  nothing  except  a  fing^  faCf  relative  to  the  plague,  that  he  thought 
xe  worth  remembering  or  communicating.”  The  fcience  of  medecine  in 
China  according  to  the  accounts  of  De  Kalde  is  in  as  imperfeft  a  ftate  as 
among  the  Indians  cf  North  America. 


/ 


FEMALE  EDUCATION. 


S5 


it  is  by  no  means  accommodated  to  the  prefent  ftate 
of  fociety  and  manners  in  America.  The  price  of 
mufical  in ftru merits,  and  the  extravagant  fees  de¬ 
manded  by  the  teachers  of  inftrumental  mufic,  form 
but  a  fmall  part  of  my  objections  to  it. 

To  perform  well,  upon  a  mufical  inftrument,  re¬ 
quires  much  time  and  long  practice.  From  two  to  four 
hours  in  a  day,  for  three  or  four  years  appropriated 
to  mufic,  are  an  immenfe  deduction  from  that  fhort 
period  of  time  which  is  allowed  by  the  peculiar  circum- 
ftances  of  our  country  for  the  acquifition  of  the  ufeful 
branches  of  literature  that  have  been  mentioned.  How 
many  ufeful  ideas  might  be  picked  up  in  thefe  hours 
from  hiftory,  philofophy,  poetry,  and  the  numerous 
moral  efFays  with  which  our  language  abounds,  and 
how  much  more  would,  the  knowledge  acquired  upon 
thefe  fubjects  add  to  the  confequence  of  a  lady,  with 
her  huiband  and  with  fociety,  than  the  belt  performed 
pieces  of  mufic  upon  a  harpficord  or  a  guittar !  Of  the 
many  ladies  whom  we  have  known,  who  have  fpent 
the  moft  important  years  of  their  lives,  in  learning  to 
play  upon  inftruments  of  mufic,  how  few  of  them  do 
we  fee  amufe  themfelves  or  their  friends  with  them, 
after  they  become  miftre fifes  of  families  !  Their  harp- 
fichords  ferve  only  as  fide-boards  for  their  parlours, 
and  prove  by  their  filence,  that  necefiity  and  circum- 
ftances,  will  always  prevail  over  fafhion,  and  falfc 
maxims  of  education. 


THOUGHTS  UPON 


S6 

Let  it  not  be  fuppofed  from  thefe  observations  that 
I  am  infenfible  of  the  charms  of  inftrumental  mufic, 
or  that  I  with  to  exclude  it  from  the  education  of  a 
lady  where  a  mufical  ear  irrefiftably  difpofes  to  it,  and 
affluence  at  the  fame  time  affords  a  profpect  of  fuck 
an  exemption  from  the  ufual  cares  and  duties  of  the 
miftrefs  of  a  family,  as  will  enable  her  to  praitife  it. 
Thefe  circumftances  form  an  exception  to  the  general 
conduit  that  Should  arife  upon  this  fubjeit,  from  the 
prefent  ftate  of  Society  and  manners  in  America. 

It  is  agreeable  to  obferve  how  differently  modern 
writers,  and  the  infpired  author  of  the  Proverbs, 
defcribe  a  fine  woman.  The  former  confine  their 
praifes  chiefly  to  perfonal  charms,  and  ornamental  ac- 
complifhments,  while  the  latter  celebrates  only  the  vir¬ 
tues  of  a  valuable  miftrefs  of  a  family,  and  a  ufeful 
member  of  Society.  The  one  is  perfeitly  acquainted 
with  all  the  fafhionable  languages  of  Europe;  the 
other,  iC  opens  her  mouth  with  wifdom”  and  is  per¬ 
fectly  acquainted  with  all  the  ufes  of  the  needle,  the 
diftaff,  and  the  loom.  The  bufinefs  of  the  one, 
is  pleafure;  the  pleafure  of  the  other,  is  bufinefs. 
The  one  is  admired  abroad;  the  other  is  honoured 
and  beloved  at  home.  “  Her  children  arife  up  and 
“  call  her  bleffed,  her  hufband  alfo,  and  he  praifeth  her.’* 
There  is  no  fame  in  the  world  equal  to  this ;  nor  is 
there  a  note  in  mufic  half  fo  delightful,  as  the  refpeit- 
ful  language  with  which  a  grateful  fon  or  daughter 


FEMALE  EDUCATION^ 


87 


perpetuates  the  memory  of  a  fenfible  and  affectionate 
mother. 

It  fhould  not  furprize  us  that  BritifK  cuftoms,  with 
refpeCt  to  female  education,  have  been  transplanted 
into  our  American  fchools  and  families.  We  fee  marks 
of  the  lame  incongruity,  of  time  and  place,  in  many 
other  things.  We  behold  our  houfes  accomodated  to 
the  climate  of  Great  Britain,  by  eaftern  and  wefterrt 
directions.  We  behold  our  ladies  panting  in  a  heat 
of  ninety  degrees,  under  a  hat  and  cufhion,  which  were 
calculated  for  the  temperature  of  a  Britifh  fummer. 
We  behold  our  citizens  condemned  and  punilhed  by 
a  criminal  law,  which  was  copied  from  a  country, 

where  maturity  in  corruption  renders  public  executions 

■ 

a  part  of  the  amufements  of  the  nation.  It  is  high 
time  to  awake  from  this  ferviiity — to  ftudy  our  own 
character — to  examine  the  age  of  our  country — and 
to  adopt  manners  in  every  thing,  that  (hall  be  accomo¬ 
dated  to  our  ftate  of  fociety,  and  to  the  forms  of  our 
government.  In  particular  it  is  incumbent  upon  us  to 
make  ornamental  accomplifnments  yield  to  principles 
and  knowledge,  in  the  education  of  our  women* 

0  i- 

A  philofopher  once  faid  a  let  me  make  all  the  bal- 
lads  of  a  country  and  I  care  not  who  makes  its  laws.” 
He  might  with  more  propriety  have  faid,  let  the  ladies 
of  a  country  be  educated  properly,  and  they  will 
not  only  make  and  adminifter  its  laws,  but  form  its 
manners  and  character.  It  would  require  a  lively 
imaginaiton  to  deferibe,  or  even  to  comprehend,  the 


3S 


^THOUGHTS  tTPON 


happinefs  of  a  country,  wheYe  knowledge  and  virtue* 
were  generally  diffufed  among  the  female  fex.  Our 
young  men  would  then  be  reftrained  from  vice  by  the 
terror  of  being  banifhed  from  their  company.  The 
loud  laugh,  and  the  malignant  fmile,  at  the  expence 
of  innocence,  or  of  perfonal  infirmities — the  feats  of 
fuccefsful  mimickry — and  the  low  priced  wit,  which 
is  borrowed  from  a  mifapplication  of  feripture  phrafes, 
would  no  more  be  confidered  as  recommendations 
to  the  fociety  of  the  ladies.  A  double  entendre  in 
their  prefence,  would  then  exclude  a  gentleman  forever 
from  the  company  of  both  fexes,  and  probably  oblige 
him  to  feek  an  afylum  from  contempt,  in  a  foreign 
country.  The  influence  of  female  education  would 
be  ftill  more  extenfive  and  ufeful  in  domeflic  life. 
The  obligations  of  gentlemen  to  qualify  themfelves 
by  knowledge  and  induftry  to  difeharge  the  duties 
of  benevolence,  would  be  encreafed  by  marriage  ;  and 
the  patriot — the  hero — and  the  legiflator,  would  find 
the  fweeteft  reward  of  their  toils,  in  the  approba¬ 
tion  and  applaufc  of  their  wives.  Children  would  dis¬ 
cover  the  marks  of  maternal  prudence  and  wifdom 
in  every  ftation  of  life  ;  for  it  has  been  remarked  that 

t 

there  have  been  few  great  or  good  men  who  have  not 
been  bleffed  with  wife  and  prudent  mothers.  Cyrus 
was  taught  to  revere  the  gods,  by  his  mother  Mandane 
— Samuel  was  devoted  to  his  prophetic  office  before  he 
was  born,  by  his  mother  Hannah— Conftantine  was 
refeued  from  paganifm  by  his  mother  Conflantia — and 
Edward  the  fixth  inherited  thofe  great  and  excellent 


i 


I 


FEMALE  EDUCATION  89 

qualities  which  made  him  the  delight  of  the  age  in 
which  he  lived,  from  his  mother,  lady  Jane  Seymour. 
Many  other  inftances  might  be  mentioned,  if  neceffary, 
from  ancient  and  modern  hiftory,  to  eftablifh  the 
truth  of  this  propofition. 

I  am  not  enthufiaflical  upon  the  fubject  of  educati¬ 
on.  In  the  ordinary  courfe  of  human  affairs,  we  fhali 
probably  too  foon  follow  the  footfleps  of  the  nation* 
of  Europe  in  manners  and  vices.  The  firfl  marks  we 
fhali  perceive  of  our  declenfion,  will  appear  among 

our  women.  Their  idlenefs,  ignorance,  and  profli¬ 
gacy  will  be  the  harbingers  of  our  ruin.  Then  will 
the  character  and  performance  of  a  buffoon  on  the 
theatre,  be  the  fubjedt  of  more  converfatlon  and  praife, 
than  the  patriot  or  the  minifter  of  the  gofpel  ; — then 
will  our  language  and 'pronunciation  be  enfeebled  and 
corrupted  by  a  flood  of  French  and  Italian  words  ; — then 
will  the  hiftory  of  romantic  amours,  be  preferred  to  the 
pure  and  immortal  writings  of  Addifon,  Hawkefworth 
and  Johnfon  ; — then  will  our  churches  be  negledted, 
and  the  name  of  the  fupreme  being  never  be 
called  upon,  but  in  profane  exclamations  ; — then  will 
our  Sundays  be  appropriated,  only  to  feafts  and 
concerts  ? — and  then  will  begin  all  that  train  of 

domeftic  and  political  calamities - But,  I  forbear* 

The  profpecl  is  fo  painful,  that  I  cannot  help,  fi- 
lently,  imploring  the  great  arbiter  of  human,  af¬ 
fairs,  to  interpofe  his  almighty  goodnefs,  and  to  de- 

N 


THOUGHTS  UPON 


9O 

liver  us  from  thefe  evils,  that,  at  lead  one  fpot 
of  the  earth  may  be  referved  as  a  monument  of  the 
effects  of  good  education,  in  order  to  (hev/  in  fome 
degree,  what  our  fpecies  was,  before  the  fall,  and  what 
it  {hall  be,  after  its  reftoration. 

Thus,  gentlemen,  have  I  brieflly  finiflied  what  I 
propofed.  If  I  am  wrong  in  thofe  opinions  in  which 
I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  departing  from  general  and 
fafhonable  habits  of  thinking,  I  am  fure  you  will  dif- 
cover,  and  pardon  rny  miftakes.  But  if  I  am  right,  I 
am  equally  fure  you  will  adopt  my  opinions  \  for  to 
enlightened  minds  truth  is  alike  acceptable,  whether 
it  comes  from  the  lips  of  age,  or  the  hand  of  antiquity* 
or  whether  it  be  obtruded  by  a  perfon,  who  has  no 
other  claim  to  attention,  than  a  delire  of  adding  to  the 
dock  of  human  happinefs 

I  cannot  difmifs  the  fubjefl  of  female  education 
without  remarking,  that  the  city  of  Philadelphia  fird 
faw  a  number  of  gentlemen  afTociated  for  the  purpofe 
of  direfling'  the  education  of  young  ladies.  By  means 
of  this  plan,  the  power  of  teachers  is  regulated  and 
redrained,  and  the  objefls  of  education  are  extended. 
By  the  reparation  of  the  fexes  in  the  unformed  date 
of  their  manners,  female  delicacy  is  cheriihed  and 
preferved.  Here  the  young  ladies  may  enjoy  all  the 
literary  advantages  of  a  board ing-fchool,  and  at  the 
fame  time  live  under  the  protection  of  their  pa- 


V_,  A  •»  * 


FEMALE  EDUCATION. 


91  ‘ 


\ 


rents*.  Here  emulation  may  be  excited  without 

9 

jealoufy, — ambition  without  envy, — and  competition 
without  ftrife.  The  attempt  to  eftablifli  this  new 
mode  of  education  for  young  ladies,  was  an  experi¬ 
ment,  and  the  fuccefs  of  it  hath  anfwered  our  ex¬ 
pectations.  Too  much  praife  cannot  be  given  to 
our  principal  J  and  his  afTiftants,  for  the  abilities  and 

m  f  * 

fidelity  with  which  they  have  carried  the  plan  into 
execution.  The  proficiency  which  the  young  ladies 
have  difcovered  in  reading — writing — fpelling- — arith¬ 
metic — grammar — geography — mufic — and  their  dif¬ 
ferent  catechifms,  fince  the  lad  examination,  is  a  lefs 
equivocal  mark  of  the  merit  of  our  teachers,  than 
any  thing  I  am  able  to  exprefs  in  their  favour. 

But  the  reputation  of  the  academy  muft  be  fufpended, 
till  the  public  are  convinced,  by  the  future  conduct 
and  character  of  our  pupils,  of  the  advantages  of  the 
inftitution.  To  you,  therefore,  Young  Ladies,  an 
important  problem  is  committed  for  folution  ;  and  that 
is,  whether  our  prefent  plan  of  education  be  a  wife  one, 
and  whether  it  be  calculated  to  prepare  you  for  the 
duties  of  focial  and  dome  (lie  life.  1  know  that  the  ele¬ 
vation  of  the  female  mind,  by  means  of  moral, 

*  (l  Unnatural  confinement  makes  a  young  woman  embrace  with  avi- 
(i  dity  every  pleafure  when  file  is  fet  free.  To  relifii  domeftic  life,  one 
lc  muft  be  acquainted  with  it $  for  it  is  in  the  houfe  of  her  parents  a  young 
t(  woman  acquires  the  relifii.”  Lord  Kuims’s  thougnts  upon  education, 
and  the  culture  of  the  heart. 

J  Andrew  Brown. 


9* 


THOUGHTS  UPON,  & C. 


phyfical  and  religious  truth,  is  confidered  by  fome 
men  as  unfriendly  to  the  domeftic  chara&er  of  a 
■woman.  But  this  is  the  prejudice  of  little  minds,  and 
fprings  from  the  fame  fpirit  which  oppofes  the  ge¬ 
neral  diffufion  of  knowledge  among  the  citizens  of 
pur  republics.  If  men  believe  that  ignorance  is 
favourable  to  the  government  of  the  female  fex,  they 
are  certainly  deceived;  for  a  weak  and  ignorant 
woman  will  always  be  governed  with  the  greateft 
difficulty.  I  have  fometimes  been  led  to  afcribe  the 
invention  of  ridiculous  and  expenfive  fafhions  in  fe- 
male  drefs,  entirely  to  the  gentlemen*,  in  order  to 
divert  the  ladies  from  improving  their  minds,  and 
thereby  to  fecure  a  more  arbitrary  and  unlimited 
authority  over  them.  It  will  be  in  your  power,  ladies, 
to  correct  the  miftakes  and  pra£lice  of  our  fex  up¬ 
on  thefe  fubjedls,  by  demonftrating,  that  the  female 
temper  can  only  be  governed  by  reafon,  and  that 
the  cultivation  of  reafon  in  women,  is  alike  friend¬ 
ly  to  the  order  of  nature,  and  to  private  as  well  as 
public  happinfs. 

*  The  very  expenfive  prints  of  female  drefles  which  are  publhhed 
annually  in  France,  are  invented  and  executed  wholly  by  gentlemen. 


A  DEFENCE  OF  THE  USE  OF  THE  BIBLE  AS  A  SCHOOL 

book.  Addressed  to  the  Rev.  Jeremy  Belknap, 

, 

OF  BOSTON. 


Dear  Sir, 

IT  is  now  fcveral  months,  fince  I  promifed  to 
give  you  my  reafons  for  preferring  the  bible 
as  a  fchool  book,  to  all  other  compofitions.  I  (hall 
not  trouble  you  with  an  apology  for  my  delaying  fo 
long  to  comply  with  my  promife,  but  fhall  proceed  im- 
mediately  to  the  fubje£t  of  my  letter. 

Before  I  ftate  my  arguments  in  favour  of  teach¬ 
ing  children  to  read  by  means  of  the  bible,  I  fhall 
affume  the  five  following  propofitions.; 

I.  That  chriftianity  is  the  only  true  and  perfect 
religion,  and  that  in  proportion  aSv  mankind  adopt  its 
principles,  and  obey  its  precepts,  they  will  be  wife,  and 
happy. 

II.  That  a  better  knowledge  of  this  religion  is  to 

be  acquired  by  reading  the  bible,  than  in  any  other 
way. 

Ill  That  the  bible  contains  more  knowledge  necef- 
fary  to  man  in  his  prefent  ftate,  than  any  other  book 
in  the  world. 


94 


DEFENCE  OF  THE  USE  OF  THE 


IV.  That  knowledge  is  moft  durable,  and  religious 
inftruction  moft  uleful,  when  imparted  in  early  life, 

V.  That  the  bible,  when  not  read  in  fchools,  is 
feldom  read  in  any  fubfequent  period  of  life. 

My  arguments  in  favor  of  the  ufe  of  the  bible  as  a 
fchool  book  are  founded,  I.  In  the  conftitution  of  the 
human  mind. 

1.  The  memory  is  the  firft  faculty  which  opens  in 
the  minds  of  children.  Of  how  much  confequence, 
then,  mud  it  be,  to  imprefs  it  with  the  great  truths  of 
chriftianity,  before  it  is  pre-occupied  with  lefs  intereft- 
ing  fubjects  !  As  all  the  liquors,  which  are  poured 
into  a  cup,  generally  tafte  of  that  which  firft  filled  it, 
fo  all  the  knowledge,  which  is  added  to  that  which  is 
treafured  up  in  the  memory  from  the  bible,  generally 
receives  an  agreeable  and  ufeful  tindlure  from  it. 

2.  There  is  a  peculiar  aptitude  in  the  minds  of  chil¬ 
dren  for  religious  knowledge.  I  have  conftantly  found 
them  in  the  firft  fix  or  feven  vears  of  their  lives,  more 
inquifitive  upon  religious  fubjects,  than  upon  any 
others  :  and  an  ingenious  inftruftor  of  youth  has 

X 

informed  me,  that  he  has  found  young  children  more 
capable  of  receiving  jufc  ideas  upon  the  moft  difficult 
tenets  of  religion,  than  upon  the  moft  fimple  branches 
of  human  knowledge.  It  would  be  ftrange  if  it  were 
otherwife;  for  God  creates  all  his  means  to  fuit  all  his 
ends.  There  mult  of  courfe  be  a  fitnefs  between  the 


BIBLE  IN  SCHOOLS. 


95 


human  mind,  and  the  truths  which  are  eflential  to  its 
happinefs. 

3.  The  influence  of  prejudice  is  derived  from  the  im- 
preflions,  which  are  made  upon  the  mind  in  early  life  j 
prejudices  are  of  two  kinds,  true  and  falfe.  In  a  world 
where  falfe  prejudices  do  fo  much  mifchief,  it  would 
difcover  great  weaknefs  not  to  oppofe  them,  by  fuch  as 
are  true . 

I  grant  that  many  men  have  rejected  the  prejudices 
derived  from  the  bible  :  but  I  believe  no  man  ever  did 

f  l  i  >  r 

fo,  without  having  been  made  uuifer  or  better ,  by  the 
early  operation  of  thefe  prejudices  upon  his  mind. 
Every  juft  principle  that  is  to  be  found  in  the  writings 
of  Voltaire,  is  borrowed  from  the  Bible  :  and  the  mo¬ 
rality  of  the  Deifts,  which  has  been  fo  much  admired 
*  ' 

and  praifed,  is,  I  believe,  in  moft  cafes,  the  effect  of 
habits,  produced  by  early  inftrudlion  in  the  principles 
of  chriftianity. 

4.  We  are  fubjeft,  by  a  general  law  in  our  natures, 
to  what  is  called  habit .  Now  if  the  ftudy  of  the  fcrip- 

•  tures  be  neceflary  to  our  happinefs  at  any  time  of  our 
lives,  the  fooner  we  begin  to  read  them,  the  more  we 
(hall  be  attached  to  them  \  for  it  is  peculiar  to  all  the 
a£ts  of  habit,  to  become  eafy,  ftrong  and  agreeable  by 
repetition. 

1 1  . 

5.  It  is  a  law  in  our  natures,  that  we  remember 
lougef  the  knowledge  we  acquire  by  the  greateft  number 


DEFENCE  OF  THE  USE  OF  THE 

i 

of  our  lenfes.  Now  a  knowledge  of  the  contents  of 
the  bible,  is  acquired  in  fchool  by  the  aid  of  the  eyes 
and  the  ears ;  for  children  after  getting  their  leflbns, 
always  fay  them  to  their  mailers  in  an  audible  voice  \ 
of  courfe  there  is  a  prefumption,  that  this  knowledge 
will  be  retained  much  longer  than  if  it  had  been  acquir¬ 
ed  in  any  other  wav. 

6.  The  interefting  events  and  characters,  recorded 
and  defcri'bed  in  the  Old  and  New  Teft  aments,  are 
accomodated  above  all  others  to  feize  upon  all  the 
faculties  of  the  minds  of  children.  The  underftand- 
ing,  the  memory,  the  imagination,  the  paffions,  and 
the  moral  powers,  are  all  occafionally  addreffed  by  the 
various  incidents  which  are  contained  in  thofe  divine 
books,  infomuch  that  not  to  be  delighted  with  them, 
is  to  be  devoid  of  every  principle  of  pleafure  that  exifts 
in  a  found  mind. 

7.  There  is  a  native  love  of  truth  in  the  human 
mind*  Lord  Shaftefbury  fays,  that  “  truth  is  fo  con- 
**  genial  to  our  minds,  that  we  love  even  the Jhadonx) 
«  of  it and  Horace,  in  his  rules  for  compofing  an 
epick  poem,  eflabliflies  the  fame  law  in  our  natures, 
by  advifmg  the  tC  fictions  in  poetry  to  refemble  truth.1 99 
Now  the  bible  contains  more  truths  than  any  other 
book  in  the  world  :  fo  true  is  the  teftimony  that  it 
bears  of  Godin  his  works  of  creation,  providence,  and 
redemption,  that  it  is  called  truth  itfelf,  by  way  of  pre¬ 
eminence  above  things  that  are  only  Amply  true.  How 


BIBLE  IN  SCHOOLS. 


97 


forcibly  are  we  flruck  with  the  evidences  of  truth,  in 
the  hiftory  of  the  Jews,  above  what  we  difcover  in  the 
hiftory  of  other  nations  ?  Where  do  we  find  a  hero, 
or  an  hiftorian  record  his  own  faults  or  vices  except  in 
the  Old  Teftament?  Indeed,  my  friend,  from  fome 
accounts  which  I  have  read  of  the  American  revolution, 
I  begin  to  grow  fceptical  to  all  hiftory  except  to  that 
which  is  contained  in  the  bible.  Now  if  this  book  be 
known  to  contain  nothing  but  what  is  materially  true, 
the  mind  will  naturally  acquire  a  love  for  it  from  this 
circumftance  :  and  from  this  affection  for  the  truths  of 
of  the  bible,  it  will  acquire  a  difcernment  of  truth  in 
other  books,  and  a  preference  of  it  in  all  the  tranfadtions 
of  life* 

VIII.  There  is  a  wonderful  property  in  the  memory 
which  enables  it  in  old  age,  to  recover  the  knowledge 
it  had  acquired  in  early  life,  after  it  had  been  appa¬ 
rently  forgotten  for  forty  or  fifty  years.  Of  how  much 
confequence,  then,  mud  it  be,  to  fill  the  mind  with 
that  fpecies  of  knowledge,  in  childhood  and  youth, 
which,  when  recalled  in  the  decline  of  life,  will  fupport 
the  foul  under  the  infirmities  of  age,  and  frnooth  the 
avenues  of  approaching  death  ?  The  bible  is  the  only 
book  which  is  capable  of  affording  this  fupport  to  old 
age  ;  and  it  is  for  this  reafon  that  we  find  it  reforted 
to  with  fo  much  diligence  and  pleafure  by  fuch  old 
people  as  have  read  it  in  early  life.  I  can  recolledl 
many  inftances  of  this  kind  in  perfons  who  difcovered 


98 


DEFENCE  OF  THE  USE  OF  T1IE 


no  attachment  to  the  bible,  in  the  meridian  of  their 
lives,  who  have  notwithftanding,  fpent  the  evening  of 
them,  in  reading  no  other  book.  The  late  Sir  John 
Pringle,  Phyfician  to  the  Queen  of  Great  Britain, 
after  palling  a  long  life  in  camps  and  at  court,  clofed 
it  by  ftudying  the  fcriptures.  So  anxious  was  he  to 
increafe  his  knowledge  in  them,  that  he  wrote  to  Dr. 
Michaelis,  a  learned  profefler  of  divinity  in  Germany, 
for  an  explanation  of  a  difficult  text  of  fcripture,  a 
fliort  time  before  his  death. 

IX.  My  fecond  argument  iii  favour  of  the  ufe  of  the 
bible  in  fchools,  is  founded  upon  an  implied  command 
of  God,  and  upon  the  practice  of  feveral  of  the  wifeft 
nations  of  the  world. — In  the  6th  chapter  of  Deu¬ 
teronomy,  we  find  the  following  words,  which  are 
directly  to  my  purpofe,  “  And  thou  fhalt  love  the 
“  Lord  thy  God,  with  all  thy  heart  and  with  all  thy 
u  foul,  and  with  all  thy  might.  And  tliefe  words 
u  which  I  command  thee  this  day  fliall  be  in  thine 
(t  heart.  And  thou  fljalt  teach  them  diligently  unto  thy 
(f  children ,  and  fhalt  talk  of  them  when  thou  fitted  in 

✓  o 

i(  thine  houfe,  and  when  thou  walked:  by  the  way, 
u  and  when  thou  lieft  down,  and  when  thou  rifeft 
“  up.” 

It  appears,  moreover,  from  the  hiflory  of  the  Jews, 
that  they  flourifhed  as  a  nation,  in  proportion  as  they 
honoured  and  read  the  books  of  Mofes,  which  contain¬ 
ed,  a  written  revelation  of  the  will  of  God,  to  the  chil- 


BIBLE  IN  SCHOOLS. 


t 


99 


dren  of  men.  The  law  was  riot  only  neglected,  but  loft 
during  the  general  profligacy  of  manners  which  accom¬ 
panied  the  long  and  wicked  reign  of  Manaflah.  But  the 
difcovery  of  it,  in  the  rubbifh  of  the  temple,  by  Jofiah, 
and  its  fubfequent  general  ufe,  were  followed  by  a  re¬ 
turn  of  national  virtue  and  profperity.  We  read 
further,  of  the  wonderful  effects  which  the  reading 
of  the  law  by  Ezra,  after  his  return  from  his  captiviy 
in  Babylon,  had  upon  the  Jews.  They  hung  upon  his 
lips  with  tears,  and  fhowed  the  fincerity  of  their  re¬ 
pentance,  by  their  general  reformation. 

The  learning  of  the  Jews,  for  many  years  confifted 
in  nothing  but  a  knowledge  of  the  feriptures.  Thefe 
were  the  text  books  of  all  the  inftru&ion  that  was 
given  in  the  fchools  of  their  prophets.  It  was  by 
means  of  this  general  knowledge  of  their  law,  that 
thofe  Jews  that  wandered  from  Judea  into  our  coun* 
tries,  carried  with  them  and  propagated  certain  ideas  of 
the  true  God  among  all  the  civilized  nations  upon  the 
face  of  the  earth.  And  it  was  from  the  attachment 
they  retained  to  the  old-  Teftament,  that  they  procured 
a  tranflation  of  it  into  the  Greek  language,  after  they 
loft  the  Hebrew  tongue,  by  their  long  abfenee  from 
their  native  country.  The  utility  of  this  tranflation, 
commonly  called  the  feptuagint,  in  facilitating  the  pro- 
grefs  of  the  gofpel,  is  well  known  to  all  who  are  ac¬ 
quainted  with  the  hiftory  of  the  (lift  age  of  the  chriftian 
church. 


IOC  DEFENCE  OF  THE  USE  OF  THE 

Buf  the  benefits  of  an  early  and  general  acquaintance 
with  the  bible,  were  not  confined  only  to  the  Jewifh 
nations.  They  have  appeared  in  many  countries  in 
Europe,  fince  the  reformation.  The  induflry,  and 
habits  of  order,  which  diftinguifh  many  of  the  German 
nations,  are  derived  from  their  early  iriftrudlion  in  the 
principles  of  chriflianity,  by  means  of  the  bible.  The 
moral  and  enlightened  character  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Scotland,  and  of  the  New  England  States,  appears  to  be 

derived  from  the  fame  caufe.  If  we  defcend  from 

»  ■  \  : 

•  i  K  1  '  ^  •  (  4 

nations  to  feels,  we  fhall  find  them  wife  and  profperous 
in  proportion  as  they  become  early  acquainted  with  the 
feriptures.  The  bible  is  dill  ufed  as  a  fchool  book 
among  the  quakers.  The.  morality  of  this  fe£l  of 
chriftians  is  univerfaily  acknowledged.  Nor  is  this  all, 
— their  prudence  in  the  management  of  their  private" 
affairs,  is  as  much  a  mark  of  their  fociety,  as  their  fober 
manners. 

'  *  *  ”  f 

I  wifh  to  be  excufed  for  repeating  here,  that  if  the 
bible  did  not  convey  a  fingle  diredlion  for  the  attain¬ 
ment  of  future  happinefs,  it  fhould  be  read  in  our  fchools 
in  preference  to  all  other  books,  from  its  containing  the 
greateft  portion  of  that  kind  of  knowledge  which  is  cal¬ 
culated  to  produce  private  and  publick  temporal  hap- 

•  t  «  *  -  ^  4 

pinefs. 

:  f 

We  err  not  only  in  human  affairs,  but  in  religion 
likewife,  only  hecaufe  (<  we  do  not  know  the  feriptures. 
The  oppofite  fyftems  of  the  numerous  fe£ts  of  chriftians 


BIBLE  IN  SCHOOLS. 


IOI 


-rile  chiefly  from  their  being  more  in  ft  meted  in  cate- 
chifms,  creeds,  and  confefiions  of  faith,  than  in  the 
feriptures.  Immenfe  truths,  I  believe,  arc  concealed  in 
them.  The  time,  I  have  no  doubt,  will  come,  when 
pofterity  will  view  and  pity  our  ignorance  of  thefe 
truths,  as  much  as  we  do  the  ignorance  of  the  difciples 
of  our  Saviour,  who  knew  nothing  of  the  meaning  of 
thofe  plain  paflages  in  the  old  teftament  which  were 
daily  fulfilling  before  their  eyes.  Whenever  that  time 
{hall  arrive,  thofe  truths  which  have  efeaped  our  notice, 
or,  if  difcovered,have  been  thought  to  be  oppofedto  each 

j. 

other,  or  to  be  inccmfiftent  with  themfelyes,  will  then 
like  the  ftones  of  Solomon’s  temple,  be  found  fo  exa&ly 
to  accord  with  each  other,  that  they  {hall  be  cement¬ 
ed  without  noife  or  force,  into  one  fimple  and  fuhlime 
fvftem  of  religion. 

i  o 


But  further,  we  err,  not  only  in  religion  but  in  phl- 
lofophy  like  wife,  becaufe  we  do  not  know  or  believe 
((  the  feriptures.”  The  fciences  have  been  compared 
to  a  circle  of  which  religion  compofes  a  part.  To  under? 
{land  any  one  of  them  perfectly  it  is  necedary  to  have 
fome  knowledge  of  them  all.  Bacon,  Boyle,  and  Newton 
included  the  feriptures  in  the  inquiries  to  which  their 
univerfal  geniufes  difpofed  them,  and  their  phiiofophy 
was  aided  by  their  knowledge  in  them.  A  ftriking  agree¬ 
ment  has  been  lately  difeovered  between  tlie  hiftory 
of  certain  events  recorded  in  the  bible  and  fome  of  the 
operations  and  productions  oi  nature,  particularly  thofe 
which  are  related  in  WhitehurfTs  obfervations  on  the 


* 


102 


DEFENCE  OF  1  HE  USE  OF  THE 


deluge —  in  Smith’s  account  of  the  origin  of  the  variety 
cf  colour  in  the  human  fpecies,  and  in  Bruce’s  travels. 
It  remains  yet  to  be  fhown  how  many  other  events, 
related  in  the  bible,  accord  with  fome  late  important 
difcoveries  in  the  principles  of  medecine.  The  events, 
and  the  principles  alluded  to,  mutually  eftablilh  the 
truth  of  each  other.  •  From  the  difcoveries  of  the 
chriftian  philofophers,  whofe  names  have  been  laft 
mentioned,  I  have  been  led  to  queftion  whether  moft 
harm  has  been  done  to  revelation,  by  thofe  divines  who 
have  unduly  multiplied  the  objects  of  faith,  or  by 
thofe  deifts  who  have  unduly  multiplied  the  objects  of 
reafon,  in  explaining  the  fcriptures. 

I  fhall  now  proceed  to  anfwer  fome  of  the  objec¬ 
tions  which  have  been  made  to  the  ufe  of  the  bible 
as  a  fchool  book. 

I.  We  are  told,  that  the  familiar  ufe  of  the  bible  in 
our  fchools,  has  a  tendency  to  leflen  a  due  reverence 
for  it.  This  objection,  by  proving  too  much,  proves 
nothing  at  all.  If  familiarity  leffens  refpe£t  for  divine 
things,  then  all  thofe  precepts  of  our  religion,  which 
enjoin  the  daily  or  weekly  worfhip  of  the  Deity,  are 
improper.  The  bible  was  not  intended  to  reprefent  a 

•  PI 

Jewifli  ark ;  and  it  is  an  antichriftian  idea,  to  fuppofe 
that  it  can  be  profaned,  by  being  carried  into  a  fchool 
houfe,  or  bv  being  handled  by  children.  But  where 
will  the  bible  be  read  by  young  people  with  more 
reverence  than  in  a  fchool  ?  Not  in  moft  private 
families  *,  for  I  believe  there  are  few  parents,  whoprc- 


BIBLE  IN  SCHOOLS.  I03 

ferve  fo  much  order  in  their  houfes,  as  is  kept  up  in 
our  common  Englifh  fchools. 

II.  We  are  told,  that  there  are  many  pafiages  in 
the  old  teftament,  that  are  improper  to  be  read  by 
children,  and  that  the  greatelt  part  of  it  is  no  way  in- 
terefling  to  mankind  under  the  prefent  difpenfation 
of  the  gofpel.  There  are  I  grant,  feveral  chapters, 
and  many  verfes  in  the  old  teftament,  which  in  their 
prefent  unfortunate  tranflation,  fhould  be  palled  over 
by  children.  But  I  deny  that  any  of  the  books  of  the 
old  teftament  are  not  interefting  to  mankind,  under 
the  gofpel  difpenfation.  Molt  of  the  characters, 
events,  and  ceremonies,  mentioned  in  them,  are  perfo- 
nal,  providential,  or  inftituted  types  of  the  Meffiah  :  All 
of  which  have  been,  or  remain  yet  to  be,  fulfilled  by 
him.  It  is  from  an  ignorance  or  neglect  of  thefe  types, 
that  we  have  fo  many  deifts  in  chriftendom  ;  for  fo 
irrefragably  do  they  prove  the  truth  of  chriltianity, 
that  I  am  fure  a  young  man  who  had  been  regularly 
inftructed  in  their  meaning,  could  never  doubt  after¬ 
wards  of  the  truth  of  any  of  its  principles.  If  any  ob- 
fcurity  appears  in  thefe  principles,  it  is  only  (to  ufe 
the  words  of  the  poet)  becaufe  they  are  dark ,  with  ex - 
cejfive  bright. 

» 

I  know  there  is  an  objection  among  many  Peo¬ 
ple  to  teacli  children  doctrines  of  any  kind,  becaufc 
they  are  liable  to  be  controverted.  But  where  will 
this  objection  lead  us  ? —  The  being  of  a  God, 
and  the  obligations  of  morality,  have  both  been 


S04  DEFENCE  OF  THE  USE  OF1  THE 

controverted  ;  and  yet  who  has  objected  to  our  teach* 
ing  thefe  doCrinea  to  our  chilldren  ? 

The  curiofity  and  capacities  of  young  people  for  the 
myfleries  of  religion,  awaken  much  fooner  than  is 
generally  fuppofed.  Of  this  we  have  two  remarkable 
proofs  in  the  old  teflame  it.  The  firPc  is  mentioned 
in  the  twelfth  chapter  of  Exodus.  “  And  it  fliall  come 
when  your  children  fliall  fay  unto  you,  u  What  mean 
you  by  this  Jervice  ?”  that  ye  fliall  fay,  45  It  is  the  facra- 
4C  lice  of  the  Lord’s  pa  Hover,  who  pafTed  over  the  houfcs 
i(  of  the  children  of  Ifrael  in  Egypt,  when  he  frnote  the 
“  Egyptians,  and  delivered  our  houfes.  And  the  chil- 
ig  dren  of  Ifrael  went  away,  and  did  as  the  Lord  had 
u  commanded  Mefes  and  Aaron.”  A  fecond  proof  of 
the  deiire  of  children  to  be  inflruCed  in  the  myfleries  of 
religion,  is  to  be  found  in  the  fixth  chapter  of  Deuter¬ 
onomy.  “  And  when  thy  fon  ajketh  thee  in  the  time  to 
come  faying,  “  What  mean  the  teflimonies— and  the 
44  flatutes — and  the  judgments  which  the  Lord  our  God 
44  hath  commanded  you  ?”  Tlien  thou  fhalt  fay  unto 
thy  fon,  c‘  We  were  Pharoah’s  bondmen  in  Egypt,  and 
44  the  Lord  our  God  brought  us  out  of  Egypt  with  a 
44  mighty  hand.”  Thefe  enquiries  from  the  mouths 
of  children  are  perfectly  natural ;  for  where  is  the 
parent  who  has  not  had  fimilar  queftions  propofed  to 
him  by  his  children  upon  their  being  being  firfl  conduc¬ 
ed  to  a  place  of  worfiiip,  or  upon  their  beholding,  for 
the  firfl  time,  either  cf  the  facraments  of  our  religion  ? 


BIBLE  IN  SCHOOLS*  toy 

Let  us  not  not  be  wifer  than  our  Maker.  If  moral 
precepts  alone  could  have  reformed  mankind;  the  mif- 
fion  of  the  Son  of  God  into  our  world,  would  have 
been  unneceffary.  He  came  to  promulgate  a  fyftem 

.  9 

of  doBrineSy  as  well  as  a  fyftem  of  morals.  The  perfedf 
morality  of  the  gofpel  refts  upon  a  doEirlne ,  which, 
though  often  controverted,  has  never  been  refuted,  I 
mean  the  vicarious  life  and  death  of  the  Son  of  God. 
This  fublime  and  ineffable  do£trine  delivers  us  from 
the  abfurd  hypothefes  of  modern  philofophers*  con¬ 
cerning  the  foundation  of  moral  obligation,  and  fixes 
it  upon  the  eternal  and  fell  moving  principle  of  love. 
It  concentrates  a  whole  fyftem  of  ethics  in  a  fingle 
text  of  fcripture.  <c  A  new  commandment  I  give  unto 
you>  that  ye  love  one  another ,  even  as  I  have  loved  you  ” 
By  witholding  the  knowledge  of  this  doctrine  from 
children,  we  deprive  ourfelves  of  the  beft  means  of 
awakening  moral  fenfibility  in  their  minds.  We  do 
more,  we  furnifh  an  argument,  for  witholding  from 
them  a  knowledge  of  the  morality  of  the  gofpel  like- 
wife  5  for  this,  in  many  inftances,  is  as  fupernatural, 
and  therefore  as  liable  to  be  controverted,  as  any  of 
the  doctrines  or  miracles  which  are  mentioned  in  the 
new  teftament.  The  miraculous  conception  of  the 
faviout  of  the  world  by  a  virgin,  is  not  more  oppofed 
to  the  ordinary  courfe  of  natural  events,  nor  is  the 

doctrine  of  the  atonement  more  above  human  reafon, 

«  — 

than  thofe  moral  precepts,  which  command  us  to  love 
our  enemies,  or  to  die  for  our  friends. 


P 


I 


10 6  DEFENCE  OF  THE  USE  OF  THE 

i 

III.  It  has  been  faid,  that  the  divifion  of  the  bible 
into  chapters  and  verfes,  renders  it  more  difficult  to 
be  read,  by  children  than  many  other  books. 

By  a  little  care  in  a  mafter,  this  difficulty  may  be  ob¬ 
viated,  and  even  an  advantage  derived  from  it.  It 
may  ferve  to  transfer  the  attention  of  the  fchoiar  to  the 
fenfe  of  a  fubje£l ;  and  no  perfon  will  ever  read  well, 
who  is  guided  by  any  thing  elfe,  in  his  flops,  em- 
phafis,  or  accents.  The  divifion  of  the  bible  into 
chapters  and  verfes,  is  not  a  greater  obftacle  to  its  be¬ 
ing  read  with  eafe,  than  the  bad  pundluation  of  moft 
other  books.  I  deliver  this  ftridture  upon  other  books, 
from  the  authority  of  Mr.  Rice,  the  celebrated  author 
of  the  art  of  fpeaking,  whom  I  heard  declare  in  a  large 
company  in  London,  that  he  had  never  feen  a  book 
properly  pointed  in  the  Engliffi  Language.  He  exem¬ 
plified,  riotwithflanding,  by  reading  to  the  fame  com¬ 
pany  a  paffage  from  Milton,  his  perfedl  knowledge  of 
the  art  of  reading. 

Some  people,  I  know,  have  propofed  to  introduce 
extracts  from  the  bible,  into  our  fchools,  inftead  of  the 
bible  itfelf.  Many  excellent  works  of  this  kind,  are 
in  print,  but  if  we  admit  any  one  of  them,  we  (hall 
have  the  fame  inundation  of  them  that  we  have  had 
of  grammars,  fpelling  books,  and  lefions  for  children, 
many  of  which  are  publifhed  for  the  benefit  of  the 
authors  only,  and  all  of  them  have  tended  greatly  to  in- 
creafe  the  expcnce  of  education.  Befides,  thefe  extra£ls 


I 


BI2LE  IN  SCHOOLS.  IO7 

or  abridgements  of  the  bible,  often  contain  the  tenets  of 
particular  fe£ts  or  perfons,  and  therefore,  may  be  im¬ 
proper  for  fehools  compofed  of  the  children  of  differ¬ 
ent  fe£ts  of  chriftians.  The  bible  is  a  cheap  book, 
and  is  to  be  had  in  every  bookftore.  It  is,  moreover, 
efteemed  and  prefered  by  all  fe£ts  ;  becaufe  each  finds 
its  peculiar  doctrines  in  it.  It  fhould  therefore  be 
ufed  in  preference  to  any  abridgements  of  it,  or  hifto- 
ries  extracted  from  it.* 

0 

»  1 

I  have  heard  it  propofed  that  a  portion  of  the 
bible  fhould  be  read  every  day  by  the  mafter,  as  a  means 
of  inftrucfing  children  in  it :  But  this  is  a  poor  fubftitutc 
for  obliging  children  to  read  it  as  a  fchool  book  ;  for  by 
this  means  we  infenfibly  engrave ,  as  it  were/  its  con¬ 
tents  upon  their  minds  :  and  it  has  been  remarked  that 
children,  inftructed  in  this  way  in  the  fcriptures,  fel- 
dom  forget  any  part  of  them.  They  have  the  fame 
advantage  over  thofe  perfons, who  have  only  heard  the 
fcriptures  read  by  a  mafter,  that  a  man  who  has  work- 

•  r 

ed  with  the  tools  of  a  mechanical  employment  for  feve- 
ral  years,  has  over  the  man  who  has  only  ftood  a  few 
hours  in  a  work  {hop  .  and  feen  the  fame  bufinefs  carri¬ 
ed  on  by  other  people. 

In  this  defence  of  the  ufe  of  the  bible  as  a  fchool 
book,  I  beg  you  would  not  think  that  I  fuppofe  the  Bi¬ 
ble  to  contain  the  only  revelation  which  God  has  made 
to  man.  I  believe  in  an  internal  revelation*  or  a  moral 


108  DEFENCE  OF  THE  USE  OF  THE 

%  * 

principle,  which  God  has  implanted  in  the  heart  of 

,  • 

every  man,  as  the  precurior  of  his  final  dominion  over 
the  whole  human  race.  How  much  this  internal  reve¬ 
lation  accords  with  the  external,  remains  yet  to  be  ex¬ 
plored  by  philofophers.  I  am  difpofed  to  believe,  that 
moft  of  the  doctrines  of  chriflianity  revealed  in  the  bi- 
ble  might  be  difeovered  by  a  clofe  examination  of  all  the 
principles  of  adrion  in  man  :  But  who  is  equal  to  fuch 
an  enquiry  ?  It  certainly  docs  not  fuit  the  natural  in¬ 
dolence,  or  laborious  employments  of  a  great  majority 
of  mankind.  The  internal  revelation  of  the  gofpel 
may  be  compared  to  the  ftraight  line  which  is  made 
through  a  wildernefs  by  the  affiftance  of  a  compafs,  to 
a  diftant  country,  which  few  are  able  to  difeover, 
while  the  bible  refembles  a  public  road  to  the  fame 
country,  which  is  wide,  plain,  and  eafily  found. 
tc  And  a  highway  {hall  be  there,  and  it  {hall  be  called 
the  way  of  holinefs.  The  way  faring  men,  though 
fools,  {hall  not  err  therein.” 

Neither  let  me  in  this  place  exclude  the  Revelation 
which  Gcd  has  made  cf  himfelf  to  man  in  the  works 
of  creation.  I  am  far  from  wifhing  to  leflen  the  in¬ 
fluence  of  this  fpecies  of  Revelation  upon  mankind. 
But  the  knowledge  of  God  obtained  from  this  fource, 
is  obfeure  and  feeble  in  its  operation,  compared  with  that 
which  is  derived  from  the  bible.  The  vifible  creation 
fpeaks of  the  Deity  in  hyeroglyphics,  while  the  bible  des¬ 
cribes  all  his  attributes  and  perfections  in  fuch  plain, 


BIBLE  IN  SCHOOLS. 


IOp 

and  familiar  language  that  iC  he  who  runs  may 
“  read.” 

How  kindly  has  our  maker  dealt  with  his  creatures, 
in  providing  three  different  cords  to  draw  them  to 
himfelf !  But  how  weakly  do  fome  men  aft,  who 

fufpend  their  faith,  and  hopes  upon  only  one  of  them  ! 

* 

By  laying  hold  of  them  all,  they  would  approach 
more  fpeedily  and  certainly  to  the  centre  of  all  hap-* 
pinefs. 

To  the  arguments  I  have  mentioned  in  favour  of 
the,ufe  of  the  bible  as  a  fchool  book,  I  fhall  add  a  few 
reflections. 

•  »  • 

The  prefent  fafhionable  practice  of  rejecting  the 
bible  from  our  fchoois,  I  fufpedt  has  originated  with 
the  deifts.  They  difcover  great  ingenuity  in  this  new 
mode  of  attacking  chriftianity.  If  they  proceed  in  it, 
they  will  do  more  in  half  a  century,  in  extirpating  our 
religion,  than  Bolingbroke  or  Voltaire  could  have  ef¬ 
fected  in  a  thoufand  years.  I  am  not  writing  to  this 
clafs  cf  people.  I  defpair  of  changing  the  opinions  of 
any  of  them.  I  wifh  only  to  alter  the  opinions  and  con- 
duct  of  thofe  lukewarm,  or  fuperftitious  chriflians, 
who  have  been  mifled  by  the  deifts  upon  this  fubjedh 
On  the  ground  of  the  good  old  cuftom,  of  ufing  the 
bible  as  a  fchool  book,  it  becomes  11  s  to  entrench  our 
religion.  It  is  the  laft  bulwark  the  deifts  have  left  it; 
for  they  have  rendered  inftrudlion  in  the  principles. 


I  IO 


DEFENCE  OF  THE  USE  OF  THE 


df  chriftianity  by  the  pulpit  and  the  prefs,fo  unfafhiona* 

0 

ble,  that  little  good  for  many  years  feems  to  have  been 
done  by  either  of  them. 

The  effeCts  of  the  difufe  of  the  bible,  as  a  fchool  book 
have  appeared  of  late  in  the  neglect  and  even  contempt 
with  which  fcripture  names  are  treated  by  many  peo¬ 
ple.  It  is  becaufe  parents  have  not  been  early  taught 
to  know  or  refpeCl  the  characters  and  exploits  of  the 
old  and  new  tcftament  worthies,  that  their  names  are 
exchanged  for  thofe  of  the  modern  kings  of  Europe,  or 
of  the  principal  characters  in  novels  and  romances.  I 
conceive  there  may  be  fome  advantage  in  bearing  fcrip¬ 
ture  names.  It  may  lead  the  perfons  who  bear  them, 
to  ftudy  that  part  of  the  fcriptures,in  which  their  names 
are  mentioned,  with  uncommon  attention,  and  perhaps 
it  may  excite  a  defire  in  them  to  poflefs  the  talents  or  vir¬ 
tues  of  their  ancient  namefakes.This  remark  firft  occur¬ 
red  to  me,  upon  hearing  a  pious  woman  whofe  name  was 
Mary,  fay,  that  the  firft  paflages  of  the  bible,  which 
made  a  ferious  imprefiion  on  her  mind,  were  thofe  in- 
terefting  chapters  and  verfes  in  which  the  name  of 
Mary  is  mentioned  in  the  NewTeftament. 

It  is  a  fingular  fact,  that  while  the  names  of  the 
kings  and  emperors  of  Rome,  are  now  given  chiefly  to 
horfes  and  dogs ,  fcripture  names  have  hitherto  been  con¬ 
fined  only  to  the  human  fpecies.  Let  the  enemies  and 
contemners  of  thofe  names  take  care,  left  the  names  of 


BIBLE  IN  SCHOOLS. 


Ill 


more  modern  kings  be  given  hereafter  only  to  the  fame 
animals,  and  left  the  names  of  the  modern  heroines  of 
romances  be  given  to  animals  of  an  inferior  fpecies. 

It  is  with  great  pleafure,  that  I  have  obferved  the  bi- 
ble  to  be  the  on:y  book  read  in  the  Sunday  fchools  in 

England.  We  have  adopted  the  fame  practice  in  the 

*  # 

Sunday  fchools,  lately  eftablifhed  in  this  city.  This 
will  give  our  religion  (humanly  fpeaking)  the  chance 
of  a  longer  life  in  our  country.  We  hear  much  of  the 
perforis  educated  in  free  fchools  in  England,  turning 
out  well  in  the  various  walks  of  life.  I  have  enquired 
into  the  caufe  of  it,  and  have  fatisfied  myfelf,  that  it  is 
wholly  to  be  afcribed  to  the  general  ufe  of  the  bible  in 
thofe  fchools,  for  it  feems  the  children  of  poor  people 
are  of  too  little  confequence  to  be  guarded  from  the 
fuppofed  evils  of  reading  the  fcriptures  in  early  life,  or 
in  an  unconfecrated  fchool  houfe. 

#  i 

However  great  the  benefits  of  reading  the  fcriptures 
in  fchools  have  been,  I  cannot  help  remarking,  that 
thefe  benefits  might  be  much  greater,  did  fchoolmafters 
take  more  pains  to  explain  them  to  their  fcholars.  Did 
they  demonftrate  the  divine  original  of  the  bible  from 
the  purity,  confiftency,  and  benevolence  of  its  doctrines 
and  precepts — did  they  explain  the  meaning  of  the 
levitical  inftitutions,  and  fhow  their  application  to  the 
numerous  and  fuceffive  gofpcl  difpenfations — did  they 
inform  their  pupils  that  the  grofs  and  abominable  vices 


1 12  DEFENCE  OF  THE  USE  OF  THE 

of  the  Jews  were  recorded  only  as  proofs  of  the  depravU 
ty  of  human  nature,  and  of  the  infufhciency  of  the  law, 
to  produce  moral  virtue  and  thereby  to  eftablifh  the 
neceffity  and  perfection  of  the  gofpel  fyflem— and  above 
all,  did  they  often  enforce  the  difeourfes  of  our  Saviour, 
as  the  bed.  rule  of  life,  and  the  fureft  guide  to  hap- 
pinefs,  how  great  would  be  the  influence  of  our  fchools 
upon  the  order  and  profperity  of  our  country  !  Such 
a  mode  of  inflruCting  children  in  the  chrillian  religion, 
would  convey  knowledge  into  their  underjtcindings ,  and 
would  therefore  be  preferable  to  teaching  them  creeds, 
and  catechifms,  which  too  often  convey,  not  know¬ 
ledge,  but  words  only,  into  their  memories .  I  think  I 
am  not  too  fanguine  in  believing,  that  education,  con¬ 
duced  in  this  manner,  would,  in  the  courfe  of  two 
generations,  eradicate  infidelity  from  among  us,  and 
render  civil  government  fcarcely  neceffary  in  our  coun¬ 
try. 

In  contemplating  the  political  inftitutions  of  the 
United  States,  I  lament,  that  we  wafte  fo  much  time 
and  money  in  punifliing  crimes,  and  take  fo  little  pains 
to  prevent  them.  We  profefs  to  be  republicans,  and 
yet  we  negleCl  the  only  means  of  eftablifhing  and  per¬ 
petuating  our  republican  forms  of  government,  that  is, 
the  univerfal  education  of  our  youth  in  the  principles 
of  chriftianity,  by  means  of  the  bible  ;  for  this  divine 
book,  above  all  others,  favours  that  equality  among  * 
mankind,  that  refpeC  for  juft  laws,  and  all  thofe  fober 


BIBLE  IN  SCHOOLS. 


IT3 


und  frugal  virtues,  which  conftitute  the  foul  of  repub- 
licanifm. 

I  have  now  only  to  apologize  for  havging  addrefled 
this  letter  to  you,  after  having  been  allured  by  you, 
that  your  opinion,  refpedting  the  ufe  of  the  bible  as  a 
fchool  book,  coincided  with  mine.  My  excufe  for 
what  I  have  done  is,  that  I  knew  you  w’ere  qualified 
by  your  knowledge,  and  difpofed  by  your  zeal  in  the 
caufe  of  truth,  to  correct  all  the  errors  you  would  dif- 
cover  in  my  letter.  Perhaps  a  further  apology  may 
be  neceffary  for  my  having  prefumed  to  write  upon 
a  fubjedt  fo  much  above  my  ordinary  ftudies.  My 
excufe  for  it  is,  that  I  thought  a  fingle  mite  from, 
a  member  of  a  profefiion,  which  has  been  frequently 
charged  with  fcepticifm  in  religion,  might  attract  the 
notice  of  perfons  who  had  often  overlooked  the  more 
ample  contributions  upon  this  fubjedt,  of  gentlemen 
of  other  profeflions.  With  great  refpedl,  I  am,  dear  fir, 
your  fincere  friend. 

BENJAMIN  RUSH. 

Philadelphia ,  March  10,  1 79 1. 


0. 


V 


* 


An  ADDRESS  TO  THE  MINISTERS  OF  THE  GOSPEL  OF 
EVERY  DENOMINATION  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

upon  Subjects  interesting  to  morals. 


“f7*ROM  the  nature  of  your  purfuits,  and  from 
your  influence  in  fociety,  I  am  encouraged 
to  addrefs  you  upon  fubjedts  of  the  utmoft  impor¬ 
tance  to  the  prefent  and  future  happinefs  of  your  fel¬ 
low-citizens,  as  well  as  to  the  profperity  of  the  United 
States. 

Under  the  great  diverfityof  opinions,  you  entertain 
in  religion,  you  are  all  united  in  inculcating  the  ne- 
cefiity  of  morals.  In  this  bufinefs  you  are  neither 
catholics  nor  protefhants — churchmen  nor  diflenters. 
One  fpirit  adluates  you  all.  From  the  fuccefs,  or 
failure,  of  your  exertions  in  the  caufe  of  virtue,  we 
anticipate  the  freedom  or  fiavery  of  our  country.  Even 
the  new  government  of  the  united  ftates,  from  which 
fo  many  advantages  are  expedted,  will  neither  reftore 
order,  nor  eftablifh  juftice  among  us,  unlefs  it  be  ac¬ 
companied  and  fuppcrted  by  morality,  among  all  clafles 
of  people.  Jmprefied  with  a  fenfe  of  the  truth  of 
thefe  obfervations,  I  {hall  briefly  point  out  a  few  of 
thofe  pradtices,  which  prevail  in  America,  which  ex- 


ADDRESS  TO  TI1E  MINISTERS,  &C.  I  1 5 

ert  a  pernicious  influence  upon  morals,  and  thereby 
prepare  our  country  for  mifery  and  flavery. 

I  {hall  begin  by  pointing  out,  in  the  firft  place,  the 
mifehevious  effects  of  fpirituos  liquors  upon  the  morals 

•  4  . 4  • 

of  our  citizens. 

I.  They  render  the  temper  peevifh  and  paffionate. 
They  beget  quarrels,  and  lead  to  profane  and  indecent 
language.  They  are  the  parents  of  idlencfs  and  ex¬ 
travagance,  and  the  certain  forerunners  of  poverty,  and 
frequently  of  jails,  wheelbarrows,  and  the  gallows. 
They  are  likewife  injurious  to  health  and  life,  and  kill 
more  than  the  peftilence,  or  the  fword.  Our  legif- 
latures,  by  premitting  the  ufe  of  them,  for  the  fake 
of  the  paltry  duty  collected  from  them,  act  as  abfurdly 
as  a  prince  would  do,  who  fhould  permit  the  cul¬ 
tivation  of  a  poifonous  nut,  which  every  year  car- 
ried  off  ten  thoufand  of  his  fubjects,  becaufe  it  yielded 
a  revenue  of  thirty  thoufand  pounds  a  year.  Thefe  ten 
thoufand  men  would  produce  annually  by  their  labour, 
or  by  paying  a  trifling  import  upon  any  one  of  the 
neceffaries  of  life,  twenty  times  that  fum.  In  order 
to  put  an  end  to  the  defolating  effedts  of  fpirituous 
liquors,  it  will  be  proper  for  our  minifters  to  preach 
agaiuft,  not  the  abufe.of  them  only,  but  their  ufe  al¬ 
together.  They  are  never  neceffary  but  in  fleknefs  : 
and  then  they  are  better  applied  to  the  outfide,  than 
to  the  ijifide  of  the  body. 


1 


Jl6  ADDRESS  TO  THE  MINISTERS 

II  Militia  laws  have  an  unfriendly  influence  upon 
morals,  more  efpecially  where  they  authorife  the  elec¬ 
tion  of  the  officers  by  the  privates.  The  meetings  of 
citizens  for  militia  exercifes  are  generally  attended 
with  intemperance  in  drinking,  quarrelling,  profane 
fwearing,  and  acts  of  violence  to  the  property  oi  the 
perfons  who  live  near  the  places  where  thole  meetings 
are  held.  It  is  a  miftake  to  fuppofe  that  the  defence 
of  liberty  requires  a  well  organized  militia  in  the  time 
of  peace. 

The  United  States  proved  in  the  beginning  of  the 
late  war,  and  France  has  proved  fmce,  that  armies  of 
difciplined  irrefutable  troops  may  be  formed  in  a  fhort 
time  out  of  the  peafants  of  a  country.  War  has  lately  be¬ 
come  a  fimple  art.  All  that  is  practical  in  it,  may  be 
acquired  in  a  few  weeks.  The  moft  gallant  exploits 
were  performed  during  the  late  war,  by  men  who  had 
been  but  a  few  days  in  the  pradtice  of  handling  fire 
arms. 

III.  Fairs  are  a  Pandora’s  box  opened  twice  a  year, 
in  many  of  the  ftates.  They  are  wholly  unneceflary, 
fince  (hops  are  fo  common  in  all  the  civilized  parts 
of  the  country.  They  tempt  to  extravagance — gaining 
— drunkennefs — and  uncleannefs.  They  are  proper 
only  in  defpotic  ftates,  where  the  more  a  people  are 
corrupted,  the  more  readily  they  fubrnit  to  arbitrary 

/  /  i  • 

government. 

IV.  Law-fuits  fhould  be  difeouraged  as  much  as 
poffible.  They  are  highly  difreputable  between  perfons 


M7 


OF  EVERY  DENOMINATION. 

who  profefles  chriftianity.  The  attendance  upon  courts 
expofes  to  idlenefs — drinking  -  and  gaming;  and  the 
ufual  delays  of  juflice  leldom  fail  of  entailing  hereditary 
difcord  among  neighbours.  It  is  with  inexpreflible  plea- 
fure  that  I  have  lately  feen  an  account  of  a  recom¬ 
mendation  from  the  prefbyterian  fynod  of  Ncw-York 
and  Philadelphia,  to  all  the  churches  under  their  care 
to  fettle  their  difputes  after  the  manner  of  the  pri¬ 
mitive  chriftians  and  friends,  by  arbitration.  Blefied 
event  in  the  hiflory  of  mankind  !  may  their  praftice 
fpread  among  all  fedls  of  chriftians,  and  may  it  prove 
a  prelude  of  that  happy  time  foretold  in  the  fcrip- 
tures,  when  war  and  murder  fhall  be  no  more. 

V.  The  licen  ticufnefs  of  the  prefs  is  a  fruitful  fource 
of  the  corruption  of  morals.  Men  are  deterred  from  in¬ 
juring  each  other,  chiefly  by  the  fear  of  detection  or 
punifhment.  Now  both  of  thefe  are  removed  by  the 
ufual  fecrecy  of  a  licentious  prefs.  Kence  revenge, 
fcandal  and  falfehood  are  cherifhed  and  propagated 
in  a  community.  But  further:  the  caufe  of  liberty 
is  greatly  injured  by  perfonal  calumnies  ;  for  who  will 
believe  a  truth  that  is  told  of  a  bad  man,  that  has 
been  accuftomed  to  read  falfehoods  publifhed  every  day 
cf  a  good  man  ?  Printers  who  vend  fcurrility,  would 
do  well  in  confidering,  that  the  publiiher  of  fcandal,  is 
as  bad  as  the  author  of  it,  in  the  fame  manner  that  the 
receiver  cf  Helen  goods,  is  sis  bad  as  the  thief. 


I 


*l8  AN  ADDRESS  TO  THE  MINISTERS 

It  becomes  the  purchafers,  and  readers  of  perfonal 
fcandal  likewiie  to  confider  that  they  are  accomplices 
in  the  guilt  of  the  authors  of  it.  We  read  with  hor¬ 
ror  the  accounts  of  human  depravity  which  has  con¬ 
verted  public  executions  into  part  of  the  amufements 
of  feveral  ancient  and  modern  nations,  but  the  depra¬ 
vity  of  the  human  heart  is  of  the  fame  nature  in  that 

man,  who  can  read  with  pleafure,  or  even  indifference, 

• ' 

the  mangled  chara£fer  of  a  fellow  citizen  in  a  licentious 
newfpaper. 

VI.  Horfe-racing  and  cock-fighting  are  unfriendly 
amufements  to  morals,  and  of  courfe  to  the  liberties  of 
our  country.  They  occafion  idlenefs,  fraud,  gaming 
and  profane  fwearing,  and  harden  the  heart  againft  the 
feelings  of  humanity.  Thefe  vulgar  fports  fhould  be 
forbidden  by  law  in  all  chriflian  and  republican  coun¬ 
tries. 

VII.  Clubs  of  all  kinds,  where  the  only  bufinefs  of 
the  company,  is  feeding  (for  that  is  the  true  name  of  a 
gratification  that  is  fimply  animal)  are  hurtful  to  morals. 
The  fociety  in  taverns  where  clubs  are  ufually  held, 
is  feldorn  fubjedf  to  much  order.  It  expofes  men  to 
idlenefs,  prodigality,  and  debt.  It  is  in  private  families, 
only  that  fociety  is  innocent,  or  improving.  Here 
manners  are  ufually  kept  within  the  bounds  of  decen- 
cy  by  the  company  of  females,  who  generally  compote 


OF  EVERY  DENOMINATION'. 


11$ 

a  part  of  all  private  families  ;  and  manners,  it  is  well 
known,  have  an  influence  upon  morals. 

* 

VIII.  Amufements  of  every  kind,  on  Sundays,  beget 
habits  of  idlenefs  and  a  love  of  pleafure,  which  extend 
their  influence  to  every  day  of  the  week.  In  thofe 
manufacturing  towns  in  England,  where  the  Sundays 
are  {pent  in  idlenefs  or  frolicking,  little  or  no  work  is 
ever  done  on  theenfuing  day;hence  it  is  called  St.  Mon¬ 
day.  If  there  were  no  hereafter — individuals  and  fo- 
cieties  would  be  great  gainers,  by  attending  public 
worfhip  every  Sunday.  Refc  from  labour  in  the  houfe 
of  God,  winds  up  the  machine  of  both  foul  and  body, 
better  than  any  thing  elfe,  and  thereby  invigorates  it 
for  the  labours  and  duties  of  the  enfuing  week.  Should 
I  ever  travel  into  a  chriftian  country,  and  wifh  to  know 
whether  the  laws  of  that  country  were  wife  and  juft, 
and  whether  they  were  duly  obeyed,  the  only  queftion 
I  would  afk,  fliould  be  u  do  the  people  fpend  Sunday 
at  church,  or  in  pleafurable  entertainments  at  home 
and  abroad  ?”  the  Sunday  fchools  in  England  have  been 
found  extremely  ufeful  in  reforming  the  children  of 
poor  people.  Who  can  witnefs  the  practices  of 
fwimming,  Aiding  and  fcating,  which  prevail  fo  univer- 
fally  on  Sundays,  in  molt  of  the  cities  of  the  United 
States,  and  net  wifh  for  fimilar  inftitutions  to  refeues 
our  poor  children  from  deftruction  ?  I  (hall  conclude 
my  remarks  upon  this  fubje£t,by  declaring,  that  I  do  not 
wifh  to  fee  any  new  laws  made  to  enforce  the  keeping 


ADDRESS  TO  THE  MINISTERS 


I  20 


of  the  Sabbath.  I  call  upon  minifters  of  the  gofpe! 
only,  to  increafe  and  extend,  by  their  influence,  the 
pure  and  ufeful  fpirit  of  their  religion  In  riding 
through  our  country,  we  may  always  tell,  by  the  ap¬ 
pearance  of  the  people  we  meet  with  cn  the  road, 
or  fee  at  taverns,  whether  they  enjoy  the  benefit  of 
public  werfnip,  and  of  a  vigilant  and  faithful  mini  fry. 
Where  a  fettlement  enjoys  thefe  ineftimable  be  flings, 
we  generally  find  taverns  deferted  on  a  Sunday,  and 
a  ftillnefs  pervading  the  whole  neighbourhood,  as  if 

nature  herfelf  had  ceafed  from  her  labours,  to  {hare 

% 

with  man  in  paying  her  weekly  homage  to  God  for 
his  creating  goodnefs 

Thus  I  have  briefly  pointed  out  the  principal  four- 
ces  of  vice  in  our  country.  They  are  all  of  a  public 
nature,  and  aflfe£t,  in  a  direct  manner,  the  general  in- 
terefts  of  fcciety.  1  fhall  now  fuggeft  a  few  fources 
of  vice,  which  arc  of  a  domeftic  nature,  and  which  in¬ 
directly  affect  the  happinefs  of  mn’  country. 

I.  The  frequent  or  long  abfence  of  the  mafier  and 
miftrefs  from  home,bydifloIving  the  bounds  of  dcmeftic 
government,  proves  a  fruitful  fc-urce  of  vice  among 
children  and  fervants.  To  prevent  in  feme  degree, 
the  inconveniencies  which  arife  from  the  neceffary  ab¬ 
fence  of  the  heads  of  a  family,  from  home,  it  would  be  a 
good  practice  to  inveft  the  eldeft  fon  or  daughter,  when 
of  a  fuitable  age,  with  the  government  of  the  family 
and  to  make  them  refponfible  for  their  conduct,  upon 


'  #  #  -  «  «  v  T*  f  r  ~  § 

,  OF  EVERY  DENOMINATION.  1 2t' 

? 

the  return  of  their  parents.  Government  in  a  family 
is  like  an  elettric  rod  to  a  houfe.  Where  it  is  wanting 
a  family  is  expofed  to  the  attacks  of  every  folly  and  vice, 
that  come  within  the  fphere  of  its  attra£lion. 

f  j 

II.  Frequent  and  large  entertainments  weaken  do- 
meftic  government,  by  removing  children  and  fervants 
too  long  from  the  eye  cf  authority.  They  moreover, 
expofe  children  and  fervants  to  the  temptation  of  eat- 
ting  and  drinking  to  excefs. 

•  y 

A  ^ 

III.  Boys  and  girls  fhould  never  be  admitted  as  fer¬ 
vants — into  a  genteel  family.  They  are  feldom  in- 
ftructed  properly,  by  their  mailers  or  miftrefles. 

y  t 

Their  leifure  hours  are  moreover  fpent  in  bad  compa¬ 
ny  :  and  all  the  vices  which  they  pick  up,  are  fpread 

✓ 

among  the  children  of  the  family,  who  are  generally 
more  prone  to  affociate  with  them,  than  with  any  other. 

r. 

Where  poverty  or  death  makes  it  necefTary  to  bind  out 

children,  they  fhould  be  bound  to  thofe  perfons  only, 

.  « 

who  will  work  with  them.'  By  thefe  means,  they  will 
be  trained  to  induftry,  and  kept  from  idlenefs  and  vice. 

IV.  Servants,  both  male  and  female  fhould  always 

£  , 

be  hired  by  the  year,  otherwife  no  proper  government: 
can  be  eflablifhed  over  them.  The  impertinence  and 
irregular  conduft  of  fervants,  arife  from  their  holding 
their  places  by  too  fhort  a  tenure.  It  would  be  a  good 
law  to  fine  every  perfon,  who  hired  a  fervant,  without 
a  written  good  character,  figned  by  his  lafl  mafteiy 

.  R 


I 


122  ADDRESS  TO  THE  MINISTERS 

\  • 

and  counterfigned  by  a  magiftrate.  This  pracHc* 
would  foon  drive  bad  fervants  out  of  the  civilized  parts^ 
of  ©ur  country  and  thereby  prevent  much  evil  both  in 
families  and  fociety.  How  many  young  men  and  wo¬ 
men  have  carried  through  life  the  forrowful  marks  in 
their  confciences  or  characters,  of  their  being  early  ini¬ 
tiated  into  the  myfteries  of  vice,  by  unprincipled  fer¬ 
vants  of  both  fexes  !  Servants  that  are  married,  fhould 
be  preferred  to  fuch  as  are  fingle.  Matrimony  in  all 
ranks  of  people  leffens  the  temptation  to  vice,  and  fur- 
nifhes  frefn  motives  to  juft  conduct, 

«•  *  * 

V.  Apprentices  fhould  always  board  and  lodge,  if  pof- 
fible,  with  their  matters  and  miftrefies,  when  they  are 
feparated  from  their  parents.  Young  people  feldom 
fall  into  bad  company  in  the  day  time.  It  is  in  the 
evening,  when  they  ceafe  to  be  fubjeCt  to  government, 
that  they  are  in  the  molt  danger  of  corruption  :  and 
this  danger  can  be  obviated  only  by  fubjeCting  all  their 
hours  to  the  direction  of  their  matters  or  miftrefies. 

I  (hull  conclude  this  addrefs,  by  fuggefting  to  mini- 
fters  of  the  gofpel,  a  plan  of  a  new  fpecies  of  federal 
government  for  the  advancement  of  morals  in  the  Uni¬ 
ted  States.  Let  each  fe£t  appoint  a  reprefentative  in  a 
general  convention  of  chriftians,  whofe  bufinefs  fhall 
be,  to  unite  in  promoting  the  general  objeCts  of  chrif- 
tianity.  Let  no  matters  of  faith  or  opinion  ever  be  in¬ 
troduced  into  this  convention,  but  let  them  be  confider- 


^  t 

OF  EVERY  DENOMINATION.  1^3 

t 

zd  as  badges  of  the  fovereignty  of  each  particular  fe£t. 
To  prevent  all  difputes,  let  the  objects  of  the  delibera¬ 
tions  of  this  general  convention  be  afcertained  with  the 
fame  accuracy,  that  the  powers  of  the  national  govern¬ 
ment  are  defined  in  the  new  c  on  ft  i  tut  ion  of  the  United 
States.  By  this  previous  ccmpaft,  no  encroachments 
will  ever  be  made  by  the  general  government,  upon 
the  principles — difcipline — or  habits  of  any  one  fe£l — 
for  in  the  prefent  ftate  of  human  nature,  the  divifion 
of  chriftians  into  fe£ts,  is  as  neceffary  to  the  exiftence 
and  prefervation  of  chriftianity,  as  the  divifion  ot  man¬ 
kind  into  nations,  and  of  nations  into  feparate  families 
are  neceftary  to  promote  general  and  private  happinefs. 
By  means  of  fuch  an  inftitution,  chriftian  charity  will 
be  promoted,  and  the  difcipline  of  each  church  will 
be  ftrengthened — for  I  would  propofe,  that  a  difmiflion 
for  immorality,  from  any  one  church,  fhould  exclude 
a  man  from  every  church  in  the  ecclefraftical  union. 
But  the  advantages  of  this  chriftian  convention  will  not 
end  here.  It  will  poffefs  an  influence  over  the  laws  of 
the  United  States.  This  influence  wall  differ  from 
that  of  moil  of  the  ecclefiaftical  aflociations  that  have 
exifted  in  the  world.  It  will  be  the  influence  of  reafon 
•over  the  paffions  of  men.  Its  objebls  will  be  morals, 
not  principles,  and  the  defign  of  it  will  be,  not  to  make 
men  zealous  members  of  any  one  church,  but  to  make 
them — good  neighbours — good  hufbands — good  fathers 
— good  maftcrs — good  fervants — and  of  courfe  good 


I 


\ 

' 

t 

J24  ADDRESS  TO  THE  MINISTERS,  &C.  » 

rulers  and  good  citizens.  The  plan  is  certainly  a  prac¬ 
ticable  one.  America  has  taught  the  nations  of  Eu¬ 
rope  by  her  example  to  be  free,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped 
(he  will  foon  teach  them  to  govern  themfelves.  Let 

her  advance  one  ftep  further — and  teach  mankind,  that 

\ 

it  is  poffible  for  chriftians  of  different  denominations 
to  love  each  other,  and  to  unite  in  the  advancement  of 
their  common  interefts.  By  the  gradual  operation  of 
fuch  natural  means,  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  pro¬ 
bably  to  become  the  kingdoms  of  the  prince  of  righte? 

*  *  ^ 

oufnefs  and  peace. 

Philadelphia ,  June  2 1 ,  1788. 

»»  ’  *  '  T.  ■'  * 


» 


% 


i 


An  enquiry  into  the  consistency  of  oaths  with 

REAiON  AND  CHRISTIANITY. 

.  *  '  *  ■  •  » 


IN  difcufling  this  queftion,  I  {hall  firft  mention 

the  objections  to  oaths,  which  are  founded  in 

* 

reafon  \  and,  fecondly,  the  objections  to  them  which 
are  derived  from  the  precepts  and  fpirit  of  the  chrif- 
tian  religion. 

I.  Oaths  produce  an  idea  in  the  minds  of  men,  that 
there  are  two  kinds  or  degrees  of  truth,  the  one  intend¬ 
ed  for  common,  and  the  other  for  folemn  occafions. 
Now,  this  idea  is  directly  calculated  to  beget  a  want 
of  reverence  for  the  inferior  kind  of  truth  ^  hence  men 
are  led  to  trifle  with  it  in  the  common  affairs  of  hu¬ 
man  life.  I  grant  that  fome  men  will  tell  the  truth, 
when  urged  to  it  by  the  folemn  formalities  of  an 
oath,  who  would  not  otherwife  do  it  :  But  this  proves 
the  great  mifchief  of  oaths  in  fociety  *,  for  as  men 
are  called  upon  to  fpeak  the  truth  999  times  in  com¬ 
mon  life,  to  once  they  are  called  upon  to  fwear  to  it, 
we  have  exactly  999  falfehoods  to  one  truth  told  by 
them.  How  extenfive,  then,  mull  be  the  mifchief  of 
j:his  great  difproportion  between  truth  and  falfehood, 
in  all  the  affairs  of  human  life  !  It  is  wrong  to  do 


126 


ON  OATHS. 


any  thing  that  fhall  create  an  idea  of  two  kinds  of 
truth.  There  is  a  fcale  of  falfehoods  ;  but  truth  has  ho 
degrees  or  fubdivifions.  Like  its  divine  author,  it  is 
an  eternal  unchangeable  unit. 

i 

II.  The  practice  of  fwearing  according  to  human 
laws,  appears  to  be  the  caufe  of  all  profane  fwear¬ 
ing,  which  is  fo  univerfal  among  all  ranks  of  people 
in  common  converfation  ;  for  if  there  are  two  modes 
of  fpeaking  the  truth,  it  is  natural  for  men  to  pre¬ 
fer  that  mode  which  the  laws  of  our  country  have 
entitled  to  the  firft  degree  of  credibility  :  hence  men 
fwear,  when  they  wifli  to  be  believed,  in  common  con¬ 
verfation. 

«  4 

III.  Oaths  have  been  multiplied  upon  fo  many 
trifling  occafions,  that  they  have  ceafed,  in  a  great 
degree,  to  operate  with  any  force  upon  the  nuoft 
folernn  occafions  :  hence  the  univerfal  prevalence  of 
perjury  in  courts,  armies  and  cuftoni-houfes,  all  over 
the  world.  This  fatt  is  fo  notorious  in  Jamaica,  that 
a  law  has  lately  been  pafled  in  that  iiland,  which  re¬ 
quires  a  bond  of  ^.200,  inftead  of  an  oath,  from  every 
captain  that  enters  his  veflel  in  the  cuftom-houfe, 
as  a  fecurity  for  his  veracity  in  the  manifeft  of  his 
cargo,  and  for  the  amount  of  his  duties  to  the  govern¬ 
ment. 

Reafon  and  feripture  (when  perfeftly  underftood) 
are  never  contrary  to  each  other  \  and  revelation  from 
God  can  never  give  a  fanttion  to  that  which  is  fo 


/ 


ON  OATHS.  127 

evidently  abfurd,  and  unfriendly  to  the  intercfts  of  hu¬ 
man  fociety.  Let  us  proceed  then  to  examine  the 
bible,  and  here  we  fliall  find,  that  oaths  are  as  contrary 
to  the  precepts  and  fpirit  of  chriftianity  as  they  are  to 
found  reafon. 

Before  I  mention  either  the  precepts  or  the  fpirit  of 
the  gofpel,  which  militate  againft  oaths,  I  fliartl  men- 
tion  a  few  of  the  cafes  of  fwearing  which  I  find  upon 

record  in  the  New  Teitament.  I  fhall  firft  mention 

% 

the  precedents  in  favour  of  this  pra£tice,  and  then 
the  precepts  and  precedents  againfl:  it. 

The  firjl  precedent  I  fhall  produce,  is  taken  from 
the  example  of  the  devil,  who  addreffes  our  Saviour 
in  an  oath,  in  Mark  v.  7.  u  What  have  I  to  do 
with  thee,  Jefus,  thou  fon  of  the  moft  high  God  ?  I 
adjure  thee  by  God  that  thou  torment  me  not.” 

A  Jecoml  precedent  is  taken  from  the  exam  pie  of 

the  high  prieft,  who  addreffes  our  Saviour  in  an  oath 

in  Matthew,  xxvi.  63.  a  I  adjure  thee,”  fays  he,  juft 

before  he  confents  to  his  death,  “  by  the  living  God , 

that  thou  tell  us  whether  thou  be  the  Chrift  the  fon 
% 

of  God.”  It  has  been  faid  that  there  was  no  impro¬ 
priety  in  this  mode  of  expreffion,  etherwife  our  Sa¬ 
viour  would  have  rebuked  it :  but  let  it  be  remem¬ 
bered,  that  he  ftood  before  the  tribunal  of  a  high- 
pried,  as  a  prifoncry  an d  fiot  as  a  teacher  ;  and  hence 
we  find  he  fubmits  in  filence  to  all  the  prophane  in- 
fults  that  were  offered  him.  In  this  filent  fubmifli- 


v 


T2&  ON  OATHS. 

4  /• 

on  to  infult,  he  moreover  fulfilled  an  ancient  prophefy 
<c  he  is  brought  as  a  lamb  to  the  flaughter  and  as  a 
fheep  before  his  {hearers  is  dumb,  fo  he  openeth  not 
his  mouth”  Ifaiah  liiiv  7. 

Peter  furnifhes  a  third  inftance  of  fwearing. 
cc  And  again  he  denied ”  (fays  Matthew,  chap.  xxvi. 
72.)  cc  with  an  oath>  I  know  not  the  man.”  It 
would  feem  from  this  account,  that  a  bare  affirma¬ 
tion  was  fo  chara  fieri  (lie  of  a  disciple  of  Jefiis  Chrift, 
that  Peter  could  not  ufe  a  more  direft  method  to 
convince  the  maid,  who  charged  him  with  being  a 
follower  of  Jefus  of  Nazareth,  that  he  was  not  a 
chrift  ian ,  than  by  having  recourfe  to  the  Jewifh  and 
pagan  praflice  of  taking  an  oath. 

Herod  furnifhes  a  fourth  mftance  of  fwearing,  in 
Matthew  xiv.  7,  when  he  promifed  to  give  the  daugh¬ 
ter  of  Herodias  whatever  (he  fhould  aik  of  him  :  fhe 
afked  for  John  the  baptift’s  head  in  a  charger:  the 
king  repented  of  his  hafty  promife  *,  a  neverthelefs, 
for  the  oath’s  fake,  and  them  which  fit  with  him  at 
meat,  he  commanded  it  to  be  given  her.”  Here 
it  is  evident  he  would  have  violated  a  common  pro¬ 
mife.  But  if  common  promifes  are  not  held  facred, 

1  * 

and  binding,  there  is  an  end  of  a  great  portion  of 
truth  in  fociety,  and  of  all  the  order  and  happinefs 
which  arife  from  it.  To  fecure  conftant  and  uni- 
verfal  truth,  men  fiiould  fwear  always  or  not  at  all . 


/ 


♦  ON  OATHS.  129 

A  fifth  precedent  for  fwearing  we  find  in  the  xix 
of  Adis  and  13th  verfe.  “Then  certain  of  the  vaga¬ 
bond  Jews,  exorcifts,  took  upon  them  to  call  over 
them  which  had  evil  fpivits,  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jefus,  faying,  we  adjure  theey  by  Jefus  whom  Paul 

•  •  •  v  ♦ .  f  •  1  r  T  / 

preacheth.  And  the  man  in  whom  the  evil  fpirit 

-  1  »  -I  4  ♦  •  0  ,  ,  ,  r  ■  f  • 

was,  leaped  on  them,  and  overcame  them  ;  fo  that 

•  •  f  *  • ' 

they  fled  out  of  the  lioufe  naked  and  wounded.” 

The  lafi  precedent  for  fwearing  that  I  {hall  men¬ 
tion,  is  the  one  related  in  Adis  xxiii.  21ft.  It  con¬ 
tains  an  account  of  forty  men  who  had  bound  them- 
felves,  by  an  oath ,  not  to  eat  or  drink,  until  they  had 
killed  St.  Paul.  It  would  feem  that  this  banditti 

*  w  * •  -  Vki  .‘1  >•  s.  ^  •  ••  1  '  »  ,  . 

knew  each  other  perfedily,  and  that  they  would  not 

*■  •  >  *  ■  .4 

adi  together  under  the  form  of  a  common  obligation. 
The  occafion  indeed,  feems  to  require  an  oath.  It 
was  an  aflociation  to  commit  murder.  I  am  difpof- 
ed  to  fufpedi  that  oaths  were  introduced  originally 
to  compel  men  to  do  things  that  were  contrary  to 
juftice,  or  to  their  confciences. 

In  mentioning  the  precepts  and  precedents  that 
are  to  be  found  in  the  new  tefiament  againfl  fwear¬ 
ing,  the  following  ftriking  paflage,  taken  from  Matthew 
v.  verfes  34,  35,  36,  37,  fhould  alone  determine  the 

a  ’  ±  «  j.  4  i 

queftion.  «  Swear  not  at  all,  neither  by  heaven,  for 
it  is  God’s  throne  ;  nor  by  the  earth,  for  it  is  his 
footftool  ;  nor  by  Jerufalem,  for  it  is  the  city  of  the 


S 


130 


ON  OATHS. 


great  king.  Neither  {halt  thou  {wear  by  thy  head, 

•  r  “  v 

becaufe  thou  canft  not  make  one  hair  white  or  black 
But  let  your  communication  be  yea,  yea;  nay,  nay; 
for  whatsoever  is  more  than  thefe,  cometh  of  evil.” 

The  words  of  the  apoftle  James,  are  equally  pointed 
againft  Swearing,  chap.  v.  12.  “  But  above  all  things 

my  brethren,  Swear  not,  neither  by  heaven,  neither  by 
the  earth,  neither  by  any  other  oath  ;  but  let  your  yea, 
be  yea,  and  your  nay,  nay  ;  left  ye  fall  into  condemna¬ 
tion.” 

I  know,  thefe  paflages  are  Said  to  be  levelled  only 

W  *  ■  0^  f 

againft  profane  Swearing  in  common  conversation,  but 
this  will  appear  improbable  when  we  refledt,  that  our 
Saviour’s  words  were  addrefled  exclusively  to  his  dif- 
ciples,  and  that  the  epiftle  of  St.  James,  from  whence 
the  prohibition  of  Swearing  is  taken,  is  directed  to  a 
number  of  pious  converts  to  chriftianiiy,  none  ’of 
whom,  any  more  than  the  difciples  of  our  Lord,  could 
be  fufpefled  of  profane  Swearing  in  common  conver¬ 
sation.  Both  paffiages  equally  condemn  oaths  of  every 
kind,  and  demonstrate  their  contrariety  to  the  gofpel 
difpenfation* 

f  ,  7  .  *  i  .  . 

There  is  a  peculiar  meaning  in  the  reafon  which 
is  given  for  the  prohibition  of  fwfearing  in  the  pre¬ 
cept,  of  cur  Saviour,  viz.  that  any  thing  more  than  a 

»  — *  , 

bare  affirmation,  cometh  of  evil.  Yes,  it  came  originally 
from  the  univerfal  prevalance  of  falsehood  in  Society  ; 
but  the  chriftian  religion,  by  opening  new  Sources  of 


ON  OATHS.  ,  131 

moral  and  religious  obligation,  and  by  difcovering  more 
fully  the  beauty  and  rewards  of  truth  and  deformity, 
and  future  punifhment  of  falfehood,  has  rendered  the 
obligation  of  oaths  wholly  unneceffary.  They  com¬ 
ported  with  the  feeble  difeoveries  of  the  Jewifh,  and 
the  numerous  corruptions  of  the  pagan  religions ;  but 
they  are  unneceffary  under  that  full  and  clear  manifes¬ 
tation  of  the  divine  will  which  is  contained  in  the 
gofpel.  Csefar's  wife  fhould  not  be  fufpe£led. — With 
how  much  more  propriety  fhould  this  be  faid  of 
the  veracity  of  a  chriflian,  than  of  the  chaflity  of 
the  wife  of  a  heathen  emperor,  Every  time  a  chriflian 
fwears,  he  expofes  the  purity  and  truth  of  his  religion 
to  fufpicion.  “  As  for  you,  Petrarch,  your  word  is 
fufficient,”  faid  the  cardinal  Colonna,  in  an  enquiry 
into  the  caufe  of  a  riot  that  had  happened  in  his  fami¬ 
ly,  while  that  celebrated  poet  was  a  member  of  it ; 
and  in  which  he  exacted  an  oath  from  every  ther 
member  of  his  family,  not  excepting  his  own  brother, 
the  bifhop  £>f  Luna.  The  fame  addrefs  fhould  be  made 
to  every  chriflian,  when  he  is  called  upon  to  declare 
the  truth.  “  You  believe  in  a  future  (late  of  rewards 
and  punifhment-r-you  prof  els  to  be  the  follower  of 
that  Being  who  has  inculcated  a  regard  for  truth, 
under  the  awful  confideration  of  his  omnifcience,  and 
who  has  emphatically  (lyled  himfclf  the  truth.” 
jTcur  word)  therefore ,  is  fifjicient . 

A  nobleman  is  permitted,  by  the  laws  of  England, 
to  declare  the  truth  upon  his  honour.  The  profefiion 


132 


ON  OATHS. 


of  chriftianity  is  declared  in  Icripture  to  be  an  high 
calling,  and  chriftians  are  faid  to  be  priejls  and  kings. 
Strange  !  that  perfons  of  fuch  high  rank,  Should  be 
treated  with  lefs  refpedl  than  Englifh  noblemen  ;  and 
{till  more  ftrange  !  that  perfons  poflefling  thefe  auguft 
titles,  Should  betray  their  iliuftrious  birth  and  dignity, 

'  t 

by  conforming  to  a  practice  which  tends  fo  much 
to  invalidate  the  truth  and  excellency  of  their  re¬ 
ligion. 

It  is  very  remarkable,  that  in  all  the  accounts  we 
have  of  the  intercourfe  of  our  Saviour  with  his  dif- 
ciples,  and  of  their  fubfequent  intercourfe  with  each 
other,  there  is  no  mention  made  of  a  Angle  oath  being 
taken  by  either  of  them. 

Perhaps  there  never  was  an  event  in  which  the 
higheft  degrees  of  evidence  were  more  neceffary,  than 
they  were  to  eflabl ifh  the  truth  of  the  refurrediion 
of  our  Saviour,  as  on  the  truth  of  this  miracle  depen¬ 
ded  the  credibility  of  the  chriftian  religion.  But  in 
the  ettabliftiment  of  the  truth  of  this  great  event,  no 
oath  is  taken,  or  required.  rihe  witneiTes  of  it  (imply 
relate  what  they  faw,  and  are  believed  by  all  the 
difciples  except  one,  who  ftill  remembered  too  well 
the  prohibition  of  his  matter,  “  fwear  not  at  all,”  to 
afk  for  an  oath  to  remove  his  unbelief. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice  likewife,  that  no  prepofterous 
oath  of  cilice  is  required  of  the  difciples  when  they 
a  flume  the  apoftolic  charadler,  and  are  fent  forth  to 


ON  OATHS. 


133 


preach  the  gofpel  to  all  nations.  How  unlike  ;the 
fpirit  of  the  gofpel  are  thofe  human  conftitutions  and 
laws,  which  require  oaths  of  fidelity,  every  year  !  and 
which  appear  to  be  founded  in  the  abfurd  idea  that 
men  are  at  all  times  the  guardians  of  their  own 
virtue. 

Tliere  can  be  no  doubt  of  chriftians  having  uniform¬ 
ly  refuftd  to  take  an  oath  in  the  firft  ages  of  the 
church  :  nor  did  they  conform  to  this  pagan  cuftom, 
till  after  chriftianity  was  corrupted  by  a  mixture  with 
many  other  parts  of  the  pagan  and  Jewifh  religions. 

_  - 

There  are  two  arguments  in  favour  of  oaths 

which  are  derived  from  the  new  teftament,  and  which 

.  r  /  :  o 

remain  to  be  refuted. —  ill.  St.  Paul  ufes  feveral  ex- 

4  ^  «f  ff 

preffions  in  his  epiftles  which  amount  to  oaths,  and 
even  declares  <c  an  oath  to  be  the  end  of  ftrife.”  It 
was  the  character  of  St.  Paul,  that  he  became  all 
things  to  all  men.  He  circumcifed  as  well  as  baptized 
Jews,  and  he  proves  the  truth  of  revelation  by  a  quota¬ 
tion  from  a  heathen  poet.  Oaths  were  a  part  of  the 
Jewifh  and  pagan  inftitutions — and,  like  feveral  other 
ceremonies,  for  fome  time,  continued  to  retain  a 
ftrong  hold  of  the  prejudices  of  the  new  converts  to 
chriftianity.  But  the  above  words  of  the  Apoltle, 
which  have  been  urged  in  favor  of  fwearing,  are  by  no 
means  intended  to  apply  to  common  life.  They  have 
a  retrofpedl  to  the  promife  made  to  Abraham  of  the 
coming  of  the  Mefiiah,  and  were  defigned  to  (hew  the 


*34 


I 


ON  OATHS. 


certainty  of  that  event  in  a  language  which  was  accom¬ 
modated  to  the  idea  of  the  Jewiffi  nation. 

;  „ 

2d.  It  has  beeen  faid,  that  the  great  Jehovah 

frequently  fwears,  both  in  the  old  and  new  tefiament, 

?  ‘  "  '  •  ••  ,  f  v ,  ,  .  ,  .  •  ;rtX' 

ai  d  that  the  angel  who  is  to  found  the  laft  trumpet 
will  <*fwearthat  time  fhahbe  no  more.”  Every  expreffi- 
on  of  this  kind  fhouldbe  confidered  as  an  accomodation 
to  Jewifh  and  pagan  cuftorns,  in  order  to  render  the 
truths  of  revelation  more  intelligible  and  acceptable. 
The  Supreme  Being,  for  the  fame  reafons,  often 
affumes  to  himfeif  the  violent  pamons,  and  even  the 
features  and  fenfes  of  men  *,  and  yet  who  can  fuppofe 
it  proper  to  afcribe  either  of  them  to  a  Being,  one 

r  • 

of  whofe  perfections  conlifts  in  his  exifting  as  a  pure 
unchangeable  fpirit. 

'  *  f.  r  T*  r 

iniii  I.  ij;  »  4  .  ,  \{ 

If  oaths  are  contrary  to  reafon,  and  have  a  pernicious 
influence  upon  morals  and  the  order  of  fociety  ;  and 
above  all,  if  they  are  contrary  to  the  precepts  and 
fpirit  of  the  gofpel ;  it  becomes  legiflators  and  minis¬ 
ters  of  the  gofpel  to  confider  how  far  they  are  refponfi- 
ble  for  all  the  falfehood,  profane  f wearing  and  perjury 
that  exift  in  fociety.  It  is  in  the  power  of  legiflators 
to  abolifh  oaths,  by  expunging  them  from  our  laws  ; 
and  it  is  iri  the  power  of  minifters  of  the  gofpel,  by 
their  influence  and  example,  to  render  truth  fo  Ample 
and  obligatory,  that  human  governments  {hall  be 
afhamed  to  afk  any  other  mode  of  declaring  ir,  from 
Chrijlians >  than  by  a  bare  affirmation. 


O  N  OATHS. 


*35 


The  friends  of  virtue  and  freedom  have  beheld, 
with  great  pleaiure,  a  new  conftitution  eftablifhed 
in  the  United  States,  whofe  objects  are  peace  y  union  2nd 
jujlice .  It  will  be  in  the  power  of  the  firfl  congrefs 
that  fhall  aft  under  this  conftitution,  to  fet  the  world 
an  e'xample  of  enlightened  policy,  by  framing  laws 
that  fhall  command  obedience  without  the  abfurd  and 

.‘T 

* 

improper  obligation  of  oaths.  By  this  means  they 
will  add  the  reftoration  and  eftablifhment  of  truth, 
to  the  great  and  valuable  objects  of  the  conftitution 
that  have  been  mentioned. 

*  4  "V  „  *  *  *  » 

*  •  •  1  . ,  „  f  ■  •  •  •.  -  t  t  -  •».  .  - 

Jan.  20  1789. 


r  v  •  'll  ■<-  .  / 


An  enquiry  into  the  effects  of  public  ru- 

I  '  %  w 

N  I  SHMENTS  UPON  CRIMINALS,  AND  UPON  SOCIETY. 

Read  in  the  society  for  promoting  politi¬ 
cal  ENQUIRIES,  CONVENED  AT  THE  HOUSE  OF 

■*  ^  ^  j  #  ...  ^ 

Benjamin  Franklin,  esq^  in  Philadelphia, 

1  •!  .  •  ..  4  i  • 

March  9th,  1787. 

1  -  -  *  s  •  *  •  *  ^  :  .  J  f  .  ; . 

9 

i(  Accuftomed  to  look  up  to  thofe  nations  from  whom  we  have  derived 
<£  our  origin,  for  our  laws,  oar  opinions,  and  ouv  manners  $  we  have  re- 
cc  tained,  with  undid  ingui/hing  reverence,  their  errors,  with  their  im- 
“  provements  ;  have  blended,  with  our  public  inttitutions,  the  policy  of 
<c  dildimilar  countries  $  and  have  grafted,  on  an  infant  commonwealth, 
£<  the  manners  of  ancient  and  corrupted  monarchies.”  Preface  to 

the  LAWS  OF  fHE  SOCIETY  FOR  POLITICAL  ENQUIRIES. 


^HE  defign  of  punifhment  is  faid  to  be,  ift, 
JL  to  reform  the  perfon  who  fufFers  it  ;  2dly, 
to  prevent  the  perpetration  of  crimes,  by  exciting  ter¬ 
ror  in  the  minds  of  fpe&ators  ;  and,  3dly,  to  remove 
thofe  perfons  from  fociety,  who  have  manifefted,  by 
their  tempers  and  crimes,  that  they  are  unfit  to  live 

in  v  "*  '  •* 

a 

From  the  firft  inftitution  of  governments,  in  every 
age  and  country  (with  but  a  few  exceptions)  legifla- 
tors  have  thought  that  punifhments  fhould  be  public, 
in  order  to  anfwer  the  two  firft  of  thefe  intentions. 
It  will  require  fome  fortitude  to  combat  opinions  that 
have  been  fancftified  by  fuch  long  and  general  preju- 


/ 


AN  ENQUIRY  INTO  THE  EFFECTS,  See-  1 37 

$ice,  and  fupported  by  univerfal  praCtice.  But  truth 
in  government,  as  well  as  in  philofophy,  is  of  pro- 
grefiive  growth.  As  in  philofophy,  we  often  arrive 
at  truth  by  rejecting  the  evidence  of  our  fenfes  •,  fo 
in  government,  we  often  arrive  at  it,  after  divorcing 
our  firft  thoughts.  Reafon,  though  depofed  and  op- 

preffed,  is  the  only  juft  fovereign  of  the  human  mind. 

\ 

Difcoveries,  it  is  true,  have  been  made  by  accident  ; 
but  they  have  derived  their  credit  and  ufefulnefs  only 

from  their  according  with  the  decifions  of  reafon. 

\ 

\  \  # 

In  medifcine,  above  every  other  branch  of  philofophy, 

we  perceive  many  inftances  of  the  want  of  relation 
between  the  apparent  caufe  and  effeCt.  Who,  by 
reafoning  a  priori,  would  fuppofe,  that  the  hot  regimen 
was  not  preferable  to  the  cold,  in  the  treatment  of 
the  fmall-pox  ?  But  experience  teaches  us,  that  this 
is  not  the  cafe.  Caufe  and  effeCt  appear  to  be  rela¬ 
ted  in  philofophy,  like  the  objeCts  of  chemiftry.  Simi¬ 
lar  bodies  often  repel  each  other,  while  bodies  that 
are  diflimilar  in  figure,  weight  and  quality,  often 
unite  together  with  impetuofity.  With  our  prefent 
imperfect  degrees  of  knowledge  of  the  properties  of 
bodies,  we  can  difeover  thefe  chemical  relations  only 
by  experiment.  The  fame  may  be  faid  of  the  connec¬ 
tion  between  caufe  and  effect ,  in  many  parts  of  govern¬ 
ment.  This  connection  often  accords  with  reafon, 
while  it  is  repugnant  to  our  fenfes — and  when  this  is 
not  the  cafe,  from  our  inability  to  perceive  it,  it  forces 

T 


■4 


I38  AN  ENQUIRY  INTO  THE  EFFECTS  OF 

our  confent  from  the  teftimony  of  experience  and  ob- 

fervation.  » 

*  • 

It  has  been  remarked,  that  the  profeflion  of  arms 

* 

owes  its  pretent  rank,  as  a  fcience,  to  its  having  been 
refeued,  iince  the  revival  of  letters,  from  the  hands  of 
mere  foldiers,  and  cultivated  by  men  acquainted  with 
other  branches  of  literature.  The  reafon  of  this  is  plain. 
Truth  is  an  unit.  It  is  the  fame  thing  in  war — philo- 
fophy — medicine — morals — religion  and  government ; 
and  in  proportion  as  we  arrive  at  it  in  one  fcience,  we 
fhall  difeover  it  in  others. 

After  this  apology,  for  diflenting  from  the  eltablifh- 
ed  opinions  and  practice,  upon  the  fubjett  of  public 
punilhments,  I  fhall  take  the  liberty  of  declaring,  that 
the  great  ends  propofed,  are  not  to  be  obtained  by 
them  ;  and  that,  on  the  contrary,  all  public  punilhments 
tend  to  make  bad  men  werfe,  and  to  increafe  crimes, 
by  their  influence  upon  fociety. 

I.  The  reformation  of  a  criminal  can  never  be  ef¬ 
fected  by  a  public  punifhment,  for  the  following  rea¬ 
fon  s. 

« 

1  ft.  As  it  is  always  connected  with  infamy,  it  de- 
ftroys  in  him  the  fenfe  of  (hame,  which  is  one  of  the 
ftrongeft  out-polts  of  virtue. 

*  •  n  '*  »*,  'll’9'.  Tl  t  .  1  i 

,  ^  4  i  ^  «  p  4.J  9  «  '  *  *  *  *  1 

2dly.  It  is  generally  of  fuch  fhort  duration,  as  to 
produce  none  of  thofe  changes  in  body  or  mind,  which 
are  abfolutely  neceflary  to  reform  obftinate  habits  of 


/ice. 


PUBLIC  PUNISHMENTS. 


J39 


3<ily.  Experience  proves,  that  public  punifhmcnts 
have  increafed  propen fities  to  crimes.  A  man  who  has 
loft  his  character  at  a  whipping*  poll,  has  nothing  va¬ 
luable  left  to  lofe  in  fociety.  Pain  has  begotten  infen- 
fibility  to  the  whip  \  and  infamy  to  fhame.  Added  to 
his  old  habits  of  vice,  he  probably  feels  a  fpirit  of  re¬ 
venge  againft  the  whole  community,  whofe  laws  have 
inflicted  his  punifhment  upon  him  ;  and  hence  he  is  fti- 
mulated  to  add  to  the  number  and  enormity  of  his  out¬ 
rages  upon  fociety.  The  long  duration  of  the  punifh¬ 
ment,  when  public,  by  increafing  its  infamy,  ferves  on¬ 
ly  to  increafe  the  evils  that  have  been  mentioned.  The 
criminals,  who  were  fentenced  to  work  in  the  prefence 
of  the  City  of  London,  upon  the  Thames,  during  the 
late  war,  were  prepared  by  it,  for  the  perpetration  of 
every  crime,  as  foon  as  they  were  fet  at  liberty  from 
their  confinement.  I  proceed, 

II.  To  (hew,  that  public  punifhments,  fo  far  from 
preventing  crimes  by  the  terror  they  excite  in  the 
minds  of  fpedtators,  are  direclly  calculated  to  produce 
them. 

All  men,  when  they  fufFer,  difeover  cither  fortitude, 
infenfibility,  or  diftrefs.  Let  us  inquire  into  the  effe&s 
of  each  of  thefe  upon  the  minds  of  fpedlators. 

i  ft.  Fortitude  is  a  virtue,  that  feizes  fo  forcible  upon 
our  efteem,  that  wherever  we  fee  it,  it  never  fails  to 
weaken,  or  to  obliterate,  our  deteftation  of  the  crimes 
with  which  it  is  connected  in  criminals.  “  I  call  upon 


14®  AN  enquiry  into  the  effects  of 

€C  you/  faid  major  Andre,  at  the  place  of  execution 
to  his  attendants  <c  to  bear  witncfs,  gentlemen,  that 
“  I  die  like  a  brave  man.”  The  effeft  of  this  fpeech 
upon  the  American  army  is  well  known.  The  fpy 
was  loft  in  the  hero  :  and  indignation,  every  where, 
gave  way  to  admiration  and  praife.  But  this  is  not 
all :  the  admiration,  which  fortitude,  under  fuffering, 
excites,  has  in  fome  inftances  excited  envy.  In  Den¬ 
mark  uncommon  pains  are  taken  to  prepare  criminals 
for  death,  by  the  converfation  and  inftrudtions  of  the 
clergy.  After  this,  they  are  conduced  to  the  place 
of  execution  with  uncommon  pomp  and  folemnity. 
The  criminals,  under  thefe  circumftances,  fuffer  death 
with  meeknefs — piety — and  fometimes  with  dignity. 
Thefe  effects  of  this,  I  have  been  well  informed  have 

V 

been,  in  feveral  inftances,  to  induce  deluded  people 
to  feign  or  confefs  crimes,  which  they  had  never  com¬ 
mitted,  on  purpofe  to  fecure  to  themfelves  a  confpi- 
cuous  death,  and  a  certain  entrance  into  happinefs. 
There  is  fomething  in  the  prefence  of  a  number  of 
fpeclators,  which  is  calculated  to  excite  and  ftrength- 
en  fortitude  in  a  fufferer.  “  It  is  not  fo,i  difficult  a 
thing/’  faid  Lewis  XIV.  to  his  courtiers,  who  flood 
round  his  death-bed,  “  to  die,  as  I  expected.”  “  No 
€c  wonder/’  fays  Voltaire,  who  relates  this  anecdote, 
t(  for  all  men  die  with  fortitude,  who  die  in  company.” 
The  bravery  of  foldiers  is  derived  in  a  great  degree, 
from  the  operation  of  this  principle  in  the  human 
mind. 


PUBLIC  PUNISHMENTS. 


I4I 

adly.  If  criminals  difcover  infenfibility  under  their 
punifhments,  the  efteCl  of  it  muft  be  ftill  more  fatal 
upon  fociety.  It  removes,  inftead  of  exciting  terror. 
In  fome  inftances,  I  conceive  it  may  excite  a  defire  in 
the  minds  of  perfons  whom  debt  or  fecret  guilt  has 
made  miferable,  to  feek  an  end  of  their  diftrefl'es  in 

1  . 

the  fame  enviable  apathy  to  evil.  Should  this  infen¬ 
fibility  be  connected  with  chearfulnefs,  which  is  fome- 
times  the  cafe,  it  muft  produce  ftill  more  unfriendly 
effects  upon  fociety.  But  terrible  muft  be  the  con- 
fequence  of  this  infenfibility  and  chearfulnefs,  if  they 
fhould  lead  criminals  to  retaliate  upon  the  inhuman 
curiofity  of  fpectators,  by  profane  or  indecent  infults 
or  converfation. 

3dly.  The  effects  of  diftrefs  in  criminals,  though 
lefs  obvious  are  not  lefs  injurious  to  fociety,  than  forti¬ 
tude  or  infenfibility.  By  an  immutable  law  of  our 
nature,  diftrefs  of  all  kinds,  when  Jeen ,  produces  fympa* 
thy,  and  a  difpofition  to  relieve  it.  This  fympathy, 
in  generous  minds,  is  not  leffened  by  the  diftrefs  being 
the  offspring  of  crimes  :  on  the  contrary,  even  the 
crimes  themfelves  are  often  palliated  by  the  reflection 
that  they  were  the  unfortunate  confequences  of  extreme 
poverty — of  feducing  company — or  of  the  want  of 
a  virtuous  education,  from  the  lofs  or  negligence 
of  parents  in  early  life.  Now,  as  the  diftrefs  which 
the  criminals  fuffer,  is  the  effeCt  of  a  law  of  the  ftate, 
which  cannot  be  refitted,  the  fympathy  of  the  fpec- 
tator  is  rendered  abortive,  and  returns  empty  to  the 


AN  ENQUIRY  INTO  THE  EFFECTS  OF 


141 


bofom  in  which  it  was  awakened.  Let  us  briefly 
examine  the  confequences  of  this  abortive  fympathy 
in  fociety.  It  will  not  be  neceflary  here  to  dwell 
upon  ali  the  advantages  of  this  principle  in  human 
nature.  It  will  be  fufficient  to  obferve,  that  it  is  the 
vicegerent  of  the  divine  benevolence  in  our  world. 
It  is  intended  to  bind  up  all  the  wounds  which  fin 
and  death  have  made  among  mankind.  It  has  foun¬ 
ded  hofpitals — erected  charity-fehools — and  connected 
the  extremes  of  happinefs  and  mifery  together  in  every 
part  of  the  globe.  Above  all,  fen  Ability  is  the  centi- 
nelof  the  moral  faculty.  It  decides  upon  the  quality 
of  the  actions  before  they  reach  that  divine  principle 
of  the  foul.  It  is  of  itfelf,  to  ufe  the  words  of  an 
elegant  female  poet*, 

A  hafty  moral — a  hidden  fonfe  of  right.” 


If  fuch  are  the  advantages  of  fe-nfibility,  now  what 
muft  be  the  confequences  to  fociety,  of  extirpating-  or 
weakening  it  in  the  human  bread  ?  But  public  punifh- 
ments  are  calculated  to  produce  this  effect.  To  prove 
this,  I  muft  borrow  an  analogy  from  the  animal 
ceconomy. — rihe  fenfibility  oi  the  human  body  is  faid 
to  be  active  and  pajjlve.  The  fir  ft  is  connected  with 
motion  and  fenfation  ;  the  feccnd  cn'y  with  fen  fat  ion. 
The  ffrft  is  increafed,  the  lecond  is  diminifhed,  by  the 
repetition  of  imprefiions.  The  fame  phenomena  taxe 
place  in  the  human  mind.  Senfibilitv  here  is  botn  aEhvt 
zn<\v'’Vve.  Paffive  fenfibility  is  lefibned,  while  that  which 

X  *JsJ  * 


*  Mifj  Moore. 


PUBLIC  PUNISHMENTS*. 


is  active  is  increafed  by  habit.  The  pafiive  fenfibility 
of  a  phyfician,  to  t lie  diftrefs  of  his  patients,  is  al¬ 
ways,  diminifhed,  but  his  active  fenfibility  is  always 
increafed  by  time  ;  hence  we  find  young  phyficians 
feel  moft —  but  old  phyficians,  with  lefs  feeling,  dif- 
cover  moft  fympathy  with  their  patients. 


If  fuch  be  the  conftitution  of  our  minds,  then  the 
effects,  of  didrefs  upon  them  will  be,  not  only  to  def- 
troy  pafiive,  but  to  eradicate  active  fenfibility  from 
them.  The  principle  of  fympathy,  after  being  often 
oppefed  by  the  law  of  the  (late,  which  forbids  it  to 
relieve  the  did  refs  it  commiferates,  will  ceafe  to  act 
altogether  *,  and,  from  this  defect  of  action,  and  the 
habit  arifing  from  it,  will  foon  lofe  its  place  in  the 
human  bread.  Mifery  of  every  kind  will  then  be 
contemplated  without  emotion  or  fympathy. — The 
widow  and  the  orphan — the  naked — the  fick,  and  the 
nrifoner,  will  have  no  avenue  to  our  fervices  or  our 
charity — and  what  is  worfe  than  all,  when  the  cen. 
tinel  of  our  moral  faculty  is  removed,  there  is  no¬ 
thing  to  guard  the  mind  from  the  inroads  of  every 
pofitive  vice. 


I  pafs  over  the  influence  of  this  fympathy  in  its  fil'd 
operation  upon  tlie  government  of  the  date.  While 
we  pity,  we  fecretly  condemn  the  law  which  infli£l9 
the  punifliment :  hence,  arifes  a  want  of  rcfpe£t  for 
was  in  general,  and  a  more  feeble  union  of  the 
great  tics  of  government. 


1 44 


AN  ENQUIRY  INTO  THE  EFFECTS 


I  have  only  to  add,  upon  this  part  of  my  fubjeCt* 
that  the  pernicious  effedts  of  fympathy,  where  it  does 
not  terminate  in  a£tion;  are  happily  provided  againft 
by  the  Jewifh  law.  Hence: we  read  of  a  prohibition 
againfl:  it  where  perfons  fuffer  for  certain  crimes.  To 
fpeftators,  the  voice  of  heaven,  under  fuch  circumftan- 
ces,  is,  u  thine  eye  {hall  not  pity  him.” 

4thly.  But  it  is  poflible  the  chara&ers  or  conduct 
of  criminals  may  be  fuch,  as  to  excite  indignation 
or  contempt  inftead  of  pity,  in  the  minds  of  fpec- 
tators.  Let  us  there  enquire,  briefly,  into  the  effects 
of  thefe  paflions  upon  the  human  mind.  Every 
body  acknowledges  our  obligations  to  univerfal  benevo¬ 
lence  ;  but  thefe  cannot  be  fulfilled,  unlefs  we  love 
the  whole  human  race,  however  diverfified  they  may 
be  by  weaknefs  or  crimes.  The  indignation  or  con¬ 
tempt  which  is  felt  for  this  unhappy  part  of  the  great 
family  of  mankind,  muft  necefiarily  extinguifh  a  large; 
portion  of  this  univerfal  love.  Nor  is  this  all 
the  men,  or  perhaps  the  women  whofe  perfons  we 
deteft,  poffefs  fouls  and  bodies  compofed  of  the 
fame  materials  as  thofe  of  our' friends  and  relations. 
They  are  bone  of  their  bone  ;  and  were  originally 
fafhioned  with  the  fame  fpirits.  What,  then,  mufl  be 
the  confequence  of  a  familiarity  with  fuch  objects  of 
horror,  upon  our  attachments  and  duties  to  our  friends 
and  connections,  or  to  the  reft  of  mankind  ?  If  a 

*  •  f 

fpe&ator  (hould  give  himfelf  time  to  reflect  upon 
fuch  a  fight  of  human  depravity,  he  would  naturally 


f  •  • 

PUBLIC  PUNISHMENTS.  1 45 

recoil  from  the  embraces  of  friendfhip,  and  the  endear¬ 
ments  of  domeflic  life,  and  perhaps  fay  with  an  unfor¬ 
tunate  great  man,  after  having  experienced  an  inftance 
of  treachery  in  a  friend,  “  Oh  !  that  I  were  a  dog, 
“  that  I  might  not  call  man  my  brother.”  The 
Jewifli  law  forbade  more  than  nine  and  thirty  lafhes, 
left  the  fufferer  fhould  afterwards  become  cc  vile”  in 
die  fight  of  fpecfators.  It  is  the  prerogative  of  God 
alone,  to  contemplate  the  vices  of  bad  men.  without 
withdrawing  from  them  the  fupport  of  his  benevolence. 
Hence  we  find,  when  he  appeared  in  the  world,  in 
the  perfon  of  his  Son,  he  did  not  exclude  criminals 
from  the  benefits  of  his  goodnefs.  He  difmifled  a 
women  caught  in  the  perpetration  of  a  crime,  which 
was  capital  by  the  Jewifii  law,  with  a  friendly  admoni¬ 
tion  :  and  he  opened  the  gates  of  paradife  to  a  dying 
thief. 

u  •  v  {. 

».  *  ¥ 

5 thly.  But  let  us  fuppofe,  that  criminals  are  viewed 

without  fympathy — indignation  — or  contempt. — This 
will  be  the  cafe,  either  when  the  fpedlators  are  them- 
felves  hardened  with  vice,  or  when  they  are  too  young, 
or  too  ignorant,  to  connect  the  ideas  of  crimes  and 
punifhments  together.  Here,  then,  a  new  fource  of 
injury  arifes  from  the  public  nature  of  punifhments. 
Every  portion  of  them  will  appear,  to  fpedtators  of 
this  deferiptron,  to  be  mere  arbitrary  a£ts  of  cruelty : 
hence  will  arife  a  difpofition  to  exercife  the  fame 
arbitrary  cruelty  over  the  feelings  and  lives  of  their 
fellow  creatures.  To  fee  blows,  or  a  halter,  impofed 

U 


1 4<5  AN  ENQUIRY  INTO  THE  EFFECTS  OP 

-  vi,  .  ^  4 

in  cold  blood  upon  a  criminal,  whofe  paffive 
behaviour,  operating  with  the  ignorance  of  the  fpe&a- 
tors,  indicates  innocence  more  than  vice,  cannot  fail 
of  removing  the  natural  obftacles  to  violence  and  mur¬ 
der  in  the  human  mind. 

6thly.  Public  punifhments  make  many  crimes  known 
to  perfons  who  would  otherwife  have  pafied  through 
life  in  a  total  ignorance  of  them.  They  moreover 
produce  fuch  a  familiarity,  in  the  minds  of  fpedlators, 
with  the  crimes  for  which  they  are  inflicted,  that, 
in  fome  inflances,  they  have  been  known  to  excite  a 

f  -r,  *  ■  •  %  ■  t* 

propenfity  for  them.  It  has  been  remarked,  that  a 
certain  immorality  has  always  kept  pace  with  pub¬ 
lic  admonitions  in  the  churches  in  the  eaftern  ftates. 
In  proportion  as  this  branch  of  ecciefiaftical  difcipline 
has  declined,  fewer  children  have  been  born  out  of 
wedlock. 

ythly.  Ignominy  is  univerfally  acknowledged  to  be 
a  xvorfe  punifhment  than  death.  Let  it  not  be  fup- 
pofed,  from  this  circumftance,  that  it  operates  more 
than  the  fear  of  death  in  preventing  crimes.  On  the 
contrary,  like  the  indifcriminate  punifhment  of  death, 
1t  not  only  confounds  and  levels  all  crimes,  but  by 
increafing  the  difproportion  between  crimes  and  punifh¬ 
ments,  it  creates  a  hatred  of  all  lav/  and  govern¬ 
ment  ;  and  thus  difpofes  to  the  perpetration  of  every 
crime.  Laws  can  only  be  refpecled  and  obeyed,  while 
they  bear  an  exact  proportion  to  crimes. — The  law 


"PUBLIC  PUNISHMENTS, 


147* 


which  punifhes  the  fhooting  of  a  fwan  with  death,  in 

England,  has  produced  a  thoufand  murders.  Nor  is 

# 

this  all  the  mifchievous  influence,  which  the  punifh- 
ment  of  ignominy  has  upon  fociety.  While  murder 
is  puniftied  with  death,  the  man  who  robs  on  the 
high-way,  or  breaks  open  a  houfe,  muft  want  the 
common  feelings  and  principles  which  belong  to 
human  nature,  if  he  does  not  add  murder  to  theft,  in 
order  to  fereen  himfelf,  if  he  fhould  be  detected,  from 

that  punilhment  which  is  acknowledged  to  be  more 

.  *  '  ■  •  *  \  •  * 

terrible  than  death. 

1 

It  would  feem  ft  range,  that  ignominy  fhould  ever 
have  been  adopted,  as  a  milder  punifhment  than  death, 

did  we  not  know  that  the  human  mind  feldom  arrives 

•  .  „ 

at  truth  upon  any  fubjedt,  till  it  has  firft  reached 
the  extremity  of  error. 

8th!y.  But  may  not  the  benefit  derived  to  fociety, 
by  employing  criminals  to  repair  public  roads,  or  to 

clean  ftreets,  overbalance  the  evils  that  have  been 

% 

mentioned  ?  I  anfwer,  by  no  means.  On  the  contra¬ 
ry,  be  Tides  operating  in  onet  or  in  all  the  wrays  that  have 
been  deferibed,  the  pradtice  of  employing  criminals  in 
public  labour,  will  render  labour  of  every  kind  difre- 
putable,  more  efpecially  that  fpecies  of  it,  which  has 
for  its  objects  the  convenience  or  improvement  of  the 
ftate.  It  is  a  well-known  fa£t,  that  white  men  foon 
decline  labour  in  the  Weft  Indies,  and  in  the  fouthern 

s. 

ftates,  only  becaufe  the  agriculture,  and  mechanical 


I4S  AN  ENQUIRY  INTO  THE  EFFECTS  OF 


employments  of  thofe  countries,  are  carried  on  chiefly 
by  negro  (laves.  But  I  objeft  further  to  the  employ, 
ment  of  criminals  on  the  high- ways  and  ftreets,  from 
the  idlenefs  it  will  create,  by  alluring  fpe&ators  from 
their  bufinefs,  and  thereby  depriving  the  Hate  of  great¬ 
er  benefits  from  the  induftry  of  its  citizens,  than  it  can 
ever  derive  from  the  labour  of  criminals. 

The  hiftory  of  public  punifhments,  in  every  age  and 
country,  is  full  of  fa£ts,  which  fupport  every  principle 
that  has  been  advanced.  What  has  been  the  operation 
of  the  feventv  thoufand  executions,  that  have  taken 
place  in  Great  Britain  from  the  year  1688,  to  the  pre- 
fent  day,  upon  the  morals  and  manners  of  the  inhabi¬ 
tants  of  that  ifland  ?  Has  not  every  prifon-dctfr  that  has 
been  opened,  to  conduft  criminals  to  public  fhame  and 
punifhment,  unlocked,  at  the  fame  time,  the  bars  of 
inoral  obligation  upon  the  minds  of  ten  times  the  num¬ 
ber  of  people  ?  How  often  do  we  find  pockets  picked 
under  a  gallows,  and  highway  robberies  committed 
in  fight  of  a  gibbet  ?  From  whence  arofe  the  confpira- 
cies,  with  aflaffinations  and  poifenings,  which  prevailed 
in  the  decline  of  the  Roman  empire  ?  Were  they  not 
favoured  by  the  public  executions  of  the  amphitheatre  ? 
It  is  therefore  to  the  combined  operation  of  indolence, 
prejudice,  ignorance  and  the  defedl  of  culture  of  the 
human  heart,  alone,  that  we  are  to  aferibe  the  conti¬ 
nuance  of  public  punifhments,  after  fuch  long  and  mul¬ 
tiplied  experience  of  their  inefficacy  to  reform  bad  men, 

*  4 

er  to  prevent  the  •commiffion  of  crimes. 

*  ^ 


PUBLIC  PUNISHMENTS. 


I49 


III.  Let  it  not  be  fuppofed,  from  any  thing  that  has 
been  find,  that  I  wifh  to  abolifh  punifliments.  Far 
from  it :  I  wifh  only  to  change  the  place  and  manner 
of  inflicting  them,  fo  as  to  render  them  effectual  for 
the  reformation  of  criminals,  and  beneficial  to  fociety. 
Before  I  propofe  a  plan  for  this  purpofe,  I  beg  leave 
to  deliver  the  following  general  axioms  : 

1  ft.  The  human  mind  is  difpofed  to  exaggerate 
every  thing  that  is  removed  from  it,  by  time  or 
place. 

2dly.  It  is  equally  difpofed  to  enquire  after,  and  to 
magnify  fuch  things  as  are  facred. 

3<ily.  It  always  afcribes  the  extremes  in  qualities, 
to  things  that  are  unknown  ;  and  an  excefs  in  duration, 
to  indefinite  time. 

qthly.  Certain  and  definite  evil,  by  being  long  con¬ 
templated,  ceafes  to  be  dreaded  or  avoided.  A  fol- 
dier  foon  lofes,  from  habit  the  fear  of  death  in 
battle  ;  but  retains,  in  common  with  other  people,  the 
terror  of  death  from  ficknefs  or  drowning. 

t 

5 tlily.  An  attachment  to  kindred  and  fociety  is  one 
of  the  ftrongeft  feelings  of  the  human  heart.  A  fepe- 
paration  from  them,  therefore  has  ever  been  confider- 
cd  as  one  of  the  fevereft  punifhments  that  can  be  in-  \ 
Aided  upon  man. 


150  AN  ENQUIRY  INTO  THE  EFFECTS  OF 

6thly.  Perfonal  liberty  is  fo  dear  to  all  men,  that 
the  lofs  of  it,  for  an  indefinite  time,  is  a  punifli- 
ment  fo  fevere,  that  death  has  often  been  preferred 
to  it. 

V 

Thefe  axioms  being  admitted  (for  they  cannot  be 
controverted)  I  fhall  proceed  next  to  apply  them, 
by  fuggefting  a  plan  for  the  pimifhment  of  crimes, 
which,  I  flatter  myfelf,  will  arifwer  all  the  ends  that 
have  been  propofed  by  them. 

1 .  Let  a  large  houfe  be  ereCted  in  a  convenient  part 
of  the  ftate.  Let  it  be  divided  into  a  number  of  apart¬ 
ments,  referving  one  large  room  for  public  worfhip. 
Let  cells  be  provided  for  the  folitary  confinement  of 
fuch  perfons  as  are  of  a  refractory  temper.  Let  the 

houfe  be  fupplied  with  the  materials,  and  inflruments 

>  * 

for  carrying  on  fuch  manufactures  as  can  be  con- 
,  duCted  with  the  lead  inltruCtion,  or  previous  know¬ 
ledge.  Let  a  garden  adjoin  this  houfe,  in  which 
the  culprits  may  occafionally  work,  and  walk.  This 
fpot  will  have  a  beneficial  effect  not  only  upon  health, 
but  morals,  for  it  will  lead  them  to  a  familiarity  with 
thofe  pure  and  natural  objeCts  which  are  calculated  to 
renew  the  connection  of  fallen  man  with  his  creator. 
Let  the  name  of  this  houfe  convey  an  idea  of  its  bene- 
volent  and  falutary  defign,  but  let  it  by  no  means  be  cal¬ 
led  a  prifon,  or  by  ony  other  name  that  is  affociated 
with  what  is  infamous  in  the  opinion  of  mankind. 
Let  the  direction  of  this  inftitution  be  committed  t0 


PUBLIC  PUNISHMENTS. 


i  5* 

•  - 

perfons  of  eftablifhed  characters  for  probity,  difcretion 
and  humanity,  wlio  fliall  be  amenable  at  all  times  to 
the  legiflature,  or  courts  of  the  date. 

2dly.  Let  the  various  kinds  of  punifnment,  that  are 
to  be  inflicted  on  crimes,  be  defined  and  fixed  by  law. 
But  let  no  notice  be  taken,  in  the  law,  of  the  punifh- 
ment  that  awaits  any  particular  crime.  By  thefe  means^ 
we  fliall  prevent  the  mind  from  accuftoming  itfelf  to 
the  view  of  thefe  punifhmeats,  fo  as  to  deftroy  their 
terror  by  habit.  The  indifference  and  levity  with 
which  fome  men  fuffcr  the  punifhment  of  hanging, 
is  often  occafioned  by  an  infenfibility  which  is  contrac¬ 
ted  by  the  frequent  anticipation  of  it,  or  by  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  the  gallows  fuggefting  the  remembrance  of 

* 

icenes  of  criminal  fedivity,  in  which  it  was  the  fubjeft 
of  humour  or  ridicule.  Befides,  punifhments  fhould 
always  be  varied  in  degree,  according  to  the  temper 
of  criminals,  or  the  prcgrefs  of  their  reformation. 

3dly.  Let  the  duration  of  punifhments,  for  all  crimes 
be  limitted  :  but  let  this  limitation  be  unknown 
I  conceive  this  fecret  to  be  of  the  utmoft  importance 
in  reforming  criminals,  and  preventing  crimes.  The 
*  imagination,  when  agitated  with  uncertainty,  will  fel- 
dom  fail  of  connecting  the  longed  duration  of  pu- 
riiihment,  with  the  fmallefl  crime. 

I  cannot  conceive  any  think  more  calculated  to  dif- 
fufe  terror  through  a  community,  and  thereby  to 


AN  ENQUIRY  INTO  THE  El  FECTS  OF 


/ 


*5* 


prevent  crimes,  than  the  combination  of  the  three  c 
cum  fiances  that  have  been  mentioned  in  punifhment 

Children  will  prefs  upon  the  evening  fire  in  liflenin 

# 

to  the  tales  that  will  be  fpread  from  this  abode  o 
mifery.  Superftition  will  add  to  its  horrors  :  and  ro¬ 
mance  will  find  in  it  ample  materials  for  fiction, 
which  cannot  fail  of  increasing  the  terror  of  its 
punifhments, 

\ 

Let  it  not  be  objected,  that  the  terror  produced 
by  the  hiftory  of  thefe  fecret  punifhments,  will  ope¬ 
rate  like  tne  abortive  fympathy  I  have  defer ibed. 
ABive  fympathy  can  be  fully  excited  only  through 
the  avenues  of  the  eyes  and  the  ears.  Befides,  the 
recollection  that  the  only  defign  of  punifhment  is  the 
reformation  of  the  criminal  will  fufpend  the  action 
of  fympathy  altogether.  We  liften  with  palcnefs  to 
the  hiftory  of  a  tedious  and  painful  operation  in  fur. 
gerv,  without  a  wifli  to  arreft  the  hand  of  the  ope¬ 
rator.  Our  fympathy,  which  in  this  cafe  is  of  the 
pajjive  kind,  is  mixed  with  pleafure,  when  we  are 
affured,  that  there  is  a  certainty  of  the  operation  being 
the  means  of  faving  the  life  of  the  fufferer. 

Nor  let  the  expence  of  erecting  and  fupporting  a 
houfe  of  repentance,  for  the  purpofes  that  have  been 
mentioned,  deter  us  from  the  undertaking.  It  would 
be  eafy  to  demonflrate,  that  it  will  not  coft  one 
fourth  as  much  as  the  maintenance  of  the  numerous 
jails  that  are  now  neceflary  in  every  well  regulated 


PUBLIC  PUNISHMENTS. 


*53 


¥ 


ftate.  But  why  fhould  receptacles  be  provided  and 
fupported  at  an  immenfe  expenfe,  in  every  country, 
for  the  relief  of  perfons  afflicted  with  bodily  difor- 
ders,  and  an  objection  be  made  to  providing  a  place 
for  the  cure  of  the  difeafes  of  the  mind  ? 

The  nature — degrees — and  duration  of  the  punifh¬ 
ments,  fhould  all  be  determined  beyond  a  certain  de- 

7  4 

*'  x 

gree,  by  a  court  properly  conflituted  for  that  purpofe, 
and  whofe  bufinefs  it  fhould  be  to  vifit  the  receptacle 
for  criminals  once  or  twice  a  year. 

I  am  aware  of  the  prejudices  of  freemen,  againft  en- 
trufling  power  to  a  difcretionary  court.  *  But  let  it  be 
remembered,  that  no  power  is  committed  to  this  court, 
but  what  is  poffeffed  by  the  different  courts  of  juftice 
in  all  free  countries  ;  nor  fo  much  as  is  now  wifely  and 
neceffarily  poffeffed  by  the  fupreme  and  inferior  courts, 
in  the  execution  of  the  penal  laws  of  Pennfylvania.  I 
(hall  fpend  no  time  in  defending  the  confiflency  of  pri¬ 
vate  punifhments,  with  a  fafe  and  free  government. 
Truth,  upon  this  fubje£t,  cannot  be  divided.  If  pub¬ 
lic  punifhments  are  injurious  to  criminals  and  to  foe i- 
cty,  it  follows  that  crimes  fhould  be  punifhed  in  private, 
or  not  punifhed  at  all.  There  is  no  alternative.  The 
oppofitiou  to  private  punifhments,  therefore  is  founded 
altogether  in  prejudice,  or  in  ignorance  of  the  true 
principles  of  liberty. 


% 


X 


154  an  enquiry  into  the  effects  of 

\ 

The  fafety  and  advantages  of  private  punifiiments^ 
will  appear,  further,  when  I  add,  that  the  belt  governed 
families  and  fehools  are  thole,  in  which  the  faults  of 

i 

fervants  and  children  are  rebuked  privately,  and  where 
confinement  and  folitude  are  preferred  for  correftion, 
to  the  ufc  of  the  rod. 

In  order  to  render  thefe  punifiiments  efFe&ual,  they 
fhould  be  accommodated  to  the  conflitutions  and 
tempers  of  the  criminals,  and  the  peculiar  nature  of 
their  crimes.  Peculiar  attention  fhould  be  paid,  like- 
wife,  in  the  nature,  degrees,  and  duration  of  punifh- 
ments,  to  crimes,  as  they  arife  from  paflion,  habit 
or  temptation. 

The  punifiiments,  fhould  confifl  of  bodily  pain,  la¬ 
bour,  watchfulnefs,  folitude,  and  filence.  They  fhould 
all  be  joined  with  cleanlinefs  and  a  fimple  diet.  To 
afcertain  the  nature,  degrees,  and  duration  of  the  bodily 
pain,  will  require  fome  knowledge  of  the  principles 
of  fenfation,  and  of  the  fympathies  which  occur  in 
the  nervous  fyflem.  The  labour  fhould  be  fo  regula¬ 
ted  and  directed,  as  to  be  profitable  to  the  ftate.  Befides 
employing  criminals  in  laborious  and  ufeful  manufac¬ 
tures,  they  may  be  compelled  to  derive  all  their  fub- 
fiftance  from  a  farm  and  a  garden,  cultivated  by  their 
own  hands,  adjoining  the  place  of  their  confine¬ 
ment. 

Thefe  punifiiments  may  be  ufed  feparately,  or  more 
«r  lefs  combined,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  crimes. 


PUBLIC  PUNISHMENTS.  I55 

.©r  according  to  the  variations  of  the  conftitution  and 
temper  of  the  criminals.  In  the  application  of  them, 
the  utmoft  polhble  advantages  {hould  be  taken  of  the 
laws  of  the  aflociation  of  ideas,  of  habit,  and  of  imi¬ 
tation. 

1  » 

To  render  thefe  phyfical  remedies  more  effectual 
■they  {hould  be  accompanied  by  regular  inftrudtion  in 
the  principles  and  obligations  of  religion,  by  perfons 
appointed  for  that  purpofe. 

Thus  far  I  am  fupported,  in  the  application  of  the 
remedies  I  have  mentioned,  for  the  cure  of  crimes, 
by  the  fa£ts  contained  in  Mr.  Howard’s  hiftory  of 
prifons,  and  by  other  obfervations.  It  remains  yet 
to  prefcribe  the  fpecific  puniffiment  that  is  proper  for 
each  fpecific  crime.  Here  my  fubjecl  begins  to  opprefs 
me.  I  have  no  more  doubt  of  every  crime  having  its 
cure  in  moral  and  phyfical  influence,  than  I  have  of 
the  efficacy  of  the  Peruvian  bark  in  curing  the  in¬ 
termitting  fever.  The  only  difficulty  is,  to  find  out 
the  proper  remedy  or  remedies  for  particular  vices. 
Mr  Dufriche  de  Valaye,  in  his  elaborate  treatife  upon 
penal  laws,  has  performed  the  office  of  a  pioneer  upon 
this  difficult  fubjeft.  He  has  divided  crimes  into  claf- 
fes  ;  and  has  affixed  punifhments  to  each  of  them,  in 
a  number  of  ingenious  tables.  Some  of  the  connec¬ 
tions  he  has  eftablifhed,  between  crimes  and  punifli- 
ments,  appear  to  be  juft.  But  many  of  his  puniftiments 
are  contrary  to  the  fitft  principles  of  action  in  man  ; 


J$6  AN  ENQUIRY  INTO  THE  EFFECTS  OF 

t 

and  all  of  them  are,  in  my  opinion,  improper,  as  far 
as  he  orders  them  to  be  inflided  in  the  eye  of  the  public. 
His  attempt,  however,  is  laudable,  and  delerves  the 
praife  of  every  friend  to  mankind. 

If  the  invention  of  a  machine  for  facilitating  labour, 
has  been  repaid  with  the  gratitude  of  a  country,  how 

much  more  will  that  man  deferve,  who  {hall  invent  the 

-  • 

moft  fpeedy  and  effectual  methods  of  reftoring  the  vi¬ 
cious  part  of  mankind  to  virtue  and  happinefs,  and  of 
extirpating  a  portion  of  vice  from  the  world  ?  Happy 
condition  of  human  affairs  !  when  humanity,  philc- 
fophy  and  chriftianity,  fhall  unite  their  influence  to 
teach  men,  that  they  are  brethren  *,  and  to  prevent 
their  preying  any  longer  upon  each  other  !  Happy 
citizens  of  the  United  States,  whofe  governments 
permit  them  to  adopt  every  difeovery  in  the  moral 

i 

or  intellectual  world,  that  leads  to  thefe  benevolent 
purpofes  ! 

Let  it  not  be  objected,  that  it  will  be  impoffible  for 
men,  who  have  expiated  their  offences  by  the  mode  of 
punifhment  that  has  been  propofed,  to  recover  their 
former  connections  with  fcciety.  This  objection  arifes 

from  an  unfortunate  afiociation  of  ideas.  The  infamy 

* 

of  criminals  is  derived,  not  fo  much  from  the  remem¬ 
brance  of  their  crimes,  as  from  the  recollection  of 
the  ignominy  of  their  punifhments.  Crimes  produce 
a  {lain,  which  may  be  wafhed  out  by  reformation,  and 
which  frequently  wears  away  by  time  \  but  public 


PUBLIC  PUNISHMENTS. 


*57 


punifhments  leave  fears  which  disfigure  the  whole 
character  •,  and  hence  perfons,  who  have  fufFercd 
them,  are  ever  afterwards  viewed  with  horror  or  aver- 
fion.  If  crimes  were  expiated  by  private  difcipline,  and 
fucceeded  by  reformation,  criminals  would  probably 
fuffer  no  more  in  character  from  them,  than  men 
fuffer  in  their  reputation  or  ufefulnefs  from  the  punifh¬ 
ments  they  have  undergone  when  boys  at  fchool. 

I  am  fo  perfectly  fatisfied  of  the  truth  of  this  opinion, 
that  methinks  I  already  hear  the  inhabitants  of  our  vil¬ 
lages  and  townfhips  counting  the  years  that  fhall  com¬ 
plete  the  reformation  of  one  of  their  citizens.  I  behold 
them  running  to  meet  himon  the  day  of  his  deliverance. 
His  friends  and  family  bathe  his  cheeks  with  tears  of 
joy  >  and  the  univerfal  fhout  of  the  neigbourhood  is, 
“  This  our  brother  was  loft,  and  is  found — was  dead 
and  is  alive.” 

It  has  long  been  a  defideratum  in  government,  that 
there  fhould  exift  in  it  no  pardoning  power,  fince  the 
certainty  of  punifhment  operates  fo  much  more  than, 
its  feverity,  or  infamy,  in  preventing  crimes.  But  where 
punifhments  are  excefiive  in  degree,  or  infamous  from 
being  public,  a  pardoning  power  is  abfolutely  necef- 
fary.  Remove  their  feverity  and  public  infamy,  and 
a  pardoning  pov/er  ceafes  to  be  neceffary  in  a  code  of 

criminal  jurifprudence.  Nay,  further — it  is  fuch  a 

% 

defect  in  penal  laws,  as  in  fome  meafure  defeats  every 
invention  to  prevent  crimes,  or  to  cure  habits  of  vice. 


AN  ENQUIRY  INTO  THE  EFFECTS  OF 


If  puniihments  were  moderate,  juft,  and  private,  they 

# 

would  exalt  the  feelings  of  public  juftice  and  benevo- 
lence  fo  far  above  the  emotions  of  humanity  in  wit- 

neffes,  juries  and  judges,  that  they  would  forget  to 
conceal,  or  to  palliate  crimes  ;  and  the  certainty  of  pu¬ 
nifhment,  by  extinguiihing  all  hope  of  pardon  in  the 
criminal,  would  lead  him  to  connect  the  beginning 
of  his  repentance  with  the  lafl  words  of  his  fentence 
of  condemnation.  To  obtain  this  great  and  falutary 
end,  there  fhould  exift  certain  portions  of  punifhment, 
both  in  duration  and  degree,  which  fhould  be  placed 
by  law  beyond  the  power  of  the  difcretionary  court 
before  mentioned,  to  fhorten  or  mitigate. 


I  have  faid  nothing  upon  the  manner  of  in¬ 
flicting  death  as  a  punifhment  for  crimes,  becaufe  I 
confider  it  as  an  improper  punifhment  for  any  crime. 
Even  murder  itfelf  is  propagated  by  the  punifhment 
cf  death  for  murder.  Of  this  we  have  a  remarkable 
proof  in  Italy.  The  duke  of  Tufcanv  foon  after 
the  publication  of  the  marquis  of  Beccaria’s  excellent 
treatife  upon  this  fubfect,  abolifhed  death  as  a  punifh¬ 
ment  for  murder.  A  gentleman,  who  redded  five 
years  at  Pifa,  informed  me,  that  only  five  murders 
had  been  perpetrated  in  his  dominions  in  twenty 
years.  The  fame  gentleman  added,  that  after  his 
refidence  in  Tufcany,  he  fpent  three  months  in  Rome, 
where  death  is  ftill  the  punifhment  of  murder,  and 
where  executions,  according  to  Dr.  Moore,  are  conduc¬ 
ed  with  peculiar  circumftances  of  public  parade.  Du- 


PUBLIC  PUNISHMENTS. 


*59 

ring  this  fhort  period,  there  were  iixty  murders  com¬ 
mitted  in  the  precindts  of  that  city.  It  is  remarkable, 
the  manners,  principles,  and  religion,  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Tufcany  and  Rome,  are  exactly  the  fame.  The 
abolition  of  death  alone,  as  a  punifhment  for  murder, 
produced  this  difference  in  the  moral  charadicr  of 
the  two  nations. 

I  fufpeft  the  attachment  to  death,  as  a  punifh¬ 
ment  for  murder,  in  minds  otherwife  enlightened, 
upon  the  fubjedt  of  capital  punifhments,  arifes  from 
a  falfe  interpretation  of  a  paffage  contained  in  the 
old  teftament,  and  that  is,  "  he  that  {beds  the  blood 
of  man,  by  man  fhall  his  blood  be  fhed.”  This  has 
been  fuppofed  to  imply  that  blood  could  only  be  ex¬ 
piated  by  blood.  But  I  am  difpofed  to  believe,  with 
a  late  commentator*  upon  this  text  of  feripture,  that 
it  is  rather  a  prediction  than  a  law .  The  language  of 
it  is  limply,  that  fuch  will  be  the  depravity  and 
folly  of  man,  that  murder,  in  every  age,  fhall  beget 
murder.  Laws,  therefore,  which  infli£fc  death  for 
murder,  are,  in  my  opinion,  as  unchriftian  as  thofe 
which  juftify  or  tolerate  revenge  ;  for  the  obligations 
of  chriflianity  upon  individuals,  to  promote  repentance, 
to  forgive  injuries,  and  to  difeharge  the  duties  of 
univerfal  benevolence,  are  equally  binding  upon  dates. 

The  power  over  human  life,  is  the  foie  prero¬ 
gative  of  him  who  gave  it.  Human  laws,  therefore, 

*  The  reverend  Mr.  William  Turner,  in  the  fccond  vel.  of  Memoirs 
•fthe  Literary  and  PMlofophical  Society  of  Mane  he  ftcr. 


l6o  AN  ENQUIRY  INTO  THE  EFFECTS  0? 

'  \ 

rife  in  rebellion  againft  this  prerogative,  when  they 
transfer  it  to  human  hands. 

If  fociety  can  be  fecured  from  violence,  by  confining 
the  murderer,  fo  as  to  prevent  a  repetition  of  his 
crime,  the  end  of  extirpation  will  be  anfwered.  In 
confinement,  he  may  be  reformed  :  and  if  this  fhould 
prove  impra&icabie,  he  may  be  retrained  for  a  term 

of  years,  that  will  probably,  be  coeval  with  his  life. 

/ 

There  was  a  time,  when  the  punifhment  of  cap¬ 
tives  with  death  or  fervitude,  and  the  indifcriminate 
deftruflion  of  peaceable  hufbandmen,  women,  and 
children,  were  thought  to  be  effential,  to  the  fuccefs 
of  war,  and  the  fafety  of  ftates.  But  experience  has 
taught  us,  that  this  is  not  the  cafe.  And  in  propor- 
tion  as  humanity  has  triumphed  over  thefe  maxims 
of  falfe  policy,  wars  have  been  lefs  frequent  and  terri- 
blc,  and  nations  have  enjoyed  longer  intervals  of  in¬ 
ternal  tranquility.  The  virtues  are  all  parts  of  a  circle. 
Whatever  is  humane,  is  wife — whatever  is  wife,  is 
juft — and  whatever  is  wife,  juft,  and  humane,  will 
be  found  to  be  the  true  intereft  of  ftates,  "whether 
criminals  or  foreign  enemies  are  the  objedls  of  their 
legifiation. 

I  have  taken  no  notice  of  perpetual  banifhment,  as 
a  legal  punifhment,  as  I  confider  it  the  next  in  de¬ 
gree,  in  folly  and  cruelty,  to  the  punifhment  of  death. 
If  the  receptacle  for  criminals,  which  has  been  pro- 


PUBLIC  PUNISHMENTS. 


161 

pofed,  is  erected  in  a  remote  part  of  the  date,  it 
will  a£t  with  the  fame  force  upon  the  feelings  of  thc 
human  heart,  as  perpetual  banifhment.  Exile,  when 
perpetual,  by  deftroying  one  of  the  moft  powerful  prin¬ 
ciples  of  action  in  man,  viz.  the  love  of  kindred  and 
country,  deprives  us  of  all  the  advantages,  which 
might  be  derived  from  it,  in  the  bufmefs  of  reformation. 
While  certain  pafiions  are  weakened,  this  noble  paffion 
is  (lengthened  by  age :  hence,  by  preferving  this 
paiTion  alive,  we  furnifh  a  principle,  which,  in  time 
may  become  an  overmatch  for  thofe  vicious  habits, 
which  feparated  criminals  from  their  friends  and  from 

Notwithftanding  this  teftimony  againft  the  punifh- 
ment  of  death  and  perpetual  banifhment,  I  cannot  help 
adding,  that  there  is  more  mercy  to  the  criminal,  and 
lefs  injury  done  to  fociety,  by  both  of  them,  than  by 
public  infamy  and  pain,  without  them. 

•  i 

The  great  art  of  furgery  has  been  faid  to  confift  in 
faving,  not  in  deftroying,  or  amputating  the  difeafed 
parts  of  the  human  body.  Let  governments  learn  to 
imitate,  in  this  refpeCt,  the  (kill  and  humanity  of  the 
healing  art.  Nature  knows  no  wade  in  any  of  her 
operations.  Even  putrefa&ion  itfelf  is  the  parent  of 
ufeful  productions  to  man.  Human  ingenuity  imitates 
nature  in  a  variety  of  arts.  Offal  maters,  of  all  kinds, 
are  daily  converted  into  the  means  of  increafing  the 
profits  of  induftry,  and  the  pleafures  of  human  life. 

Y 


1 6l  AN  ENQUIRY  INTO  THE  EFFECTS  OF 

y  z  _ ,/■  * 

The  foul  of  man  alone,  with  all  its  moral  and  intel¬ 
lectual  powers,  when  milled  by  paflion,  is  abandoned, 
by  the  ignorance  or  cruelty  of  man,  to  unprofitable 
corruption,  or  extirpation. 

A  worthy  prelate  of  the  church  of  England  once 
faid  upon  feeing  a  criminal  led  to  execution, Ci  There 

1 

goes  my  wicked  felf.”  Confidering  the  vices  to  which 
the  frailty  of  human  nature  expofes  whole  families  of 
every  rank  and  clafs  in  life,  it  becomes  us,  whenever 
we  fee  a  fellow  creature  led  to  public  infamy  and 
pain,  to  add  further.  “  There  goes  my  unhappy 
father,  my  unhappy  brother,  or  my  unhappy  fon,” 
and  afterwards  to  afk  ourfelves,  whether  private  punifh- 
ments  are  not  to  be  preferred  to  public . 

For  the  honour  of  humanity  it  can  be  faid,  that  in 
every  age  and  country,  there  have  been  found  perfons 
in  whom  uncorrupted  nature  has  triumphed  over 
cuftom  and  law.  Fife,  why  do  we  hear  of  houfes 
being  abandoned  near  to  places  of  public  execution  ? 
Why  do  we  fee  doors  and  windows  {hut  on  the  days 
or  hours  of  criminal  exhibitions  ?  Why  do  we  hear 
of  aid  being  fecretly  afforded  to  criminals,  to  mitigate 
or  elude  the  feverity  of  their  punifhments  ?  Why  is 
the  public  executioner  of  the  law  an  object  of  fuch 
general  deteftation  ?  Thefe  things  are  latent  ftruggles 
of  reafon,  or  rather  the  fecret  voice  of  God  himfelf, 
fpeaking  in  the  human  heart,  againft  the  folly  and 
cruelty  of  public  punifhment. 


PUBLIC  PUNISHMENTS. 


163 


I  fhall  conclude  this  enquiry  by  obferving,  that 
the  fame  falfe  religion  and  philofophy,  which  once 
kindled  the  fire  on  the  alter  of  perfecution,  now  doom 

the  criminal  to  public  ignominy  and  death.  In  pro- 

\ 

portion  as  the  principles  of  philofophy  and  chriftianity 
are  underftood,  they  will  agree  in  extinguifhing  the 
one,  and  deltroying  the  other.  If  thefe  principles 
continue  to  extend  their  influence  upon  government,  as 
they  have  done  for  feme  years  paft,  I  cannot  help  en¬ 
tertaining  a  hope,  that  the  time  is  not  very  diftant, 
when  the  gallows,  the  pillory,  the  (locks,  the  whipp- 
jng-poft  and  the  wheel-barrow,  (the  ufuai  engines  of 

'  r 

public  punifhments)  will  be  connedled  with  the  hiftory 
of  the  rack  ■  and  the  (lake,  as  marks  of  the  barbarity 
of  ages  and  countries,  and  as  melancholy  proofs  of  the 
feeble  operation  of  reafon  and  religion  upon  the 
human  mind. 


= 


= 


== 


i  .  •  » / 

An  enquiry  into  the  cons  i  stency  of  the  punish  ; 

MENT  OF  MURDER  BY  DEATH,  \Y  I  TH  REASON  AND 
REVELATION. 


I-  r  I^HE  Punifhment  of  Murder  by  Death,  is 
contrary  to  reafon ,  and  to  the  order  and 
happinefs  of  fociety. 

v 

i.  It  lefiens  the  horror  of  taking  away  human  life, 
and  thereby  tends  to  multiply  murders. 


2.  It  produces  murder  by  its  influence  upon  peo¬ 
ple  who  are  tired  of  life,  and  who,  from  a  fuppofition 
that  murder  is  a  lefs  crime  than  fuicide,  deftroy  a  life 
(and  often  that  of  a  near  connection)  and  afterwards 
deliver  themfelves  up  to  the  laws  of  their  country, 

that  they  may  efcape  from  their  mifery  by  means  of  a 

% 

halter. 


3.  The  punifhment  of  murder  by  death  multiplies 
murders,  from  the  difficulty  it  creates  of  convicting 
perfons  who  are  guilty  of  it.  Humanity,  revolting 
at  the  idea  of  the  feverity  and  certainty  of  a  capital 
punifhment,  often  fteps  in,  and  collects  fuch  evidence 
in  favour  of  a  murderer,  as  fereens  him  from  death 
altogether,  or  palliates  his  crime  into  manflaughter. 
Even  the  law  itfelf  favours  the  acquital  of  a  murderer 


1 65  GN  THE  PUNISHMENT  OF  MURDER  &C. 

by  making  the  circumftance  of  premeditation  and 
malice,  neceflary  to  render  the  offence,  a  capital  crime. 
Mr.  Townfend  tells  us  in  his  travels  into  Spain  * 
that  fcventy  murders  were  perpetrated  in  Malaga  in 
the  1 6  months  which  preceeded  his  vifit  to  that 
city,  all  of  which  efcaped  with  impunity,  and  pro¬ 
bably  from  the  caufes  which  have  been  mentioned. 
If  the  punifhment  of  murder  confifted  in  long  con¬ 
finement,  and  hard  labour,  it  would  be  proportioned 
to  the  meafure  of  our  feelings  of  juftice,  and  every 
member  of  fociety  would  be  a  watchman,  or  a  ma- 
giftrate,  to  apprehend  a  deftroyer  of  human  life,  and 
to  bring  him  to  punifhment. 

4.  The  punifhment  of  murder  by  death  checks  the 
operations  of  univerfal  juftice,  by  preventing  the 
punifhment  of  every  fpecies  of  murder. 

5.  The  punifhment  of  murder  by  death  has  been 
proved  to  be  contrary  to  the  order  and  happinefs  of 
fociety,  by  the  experiments  of  fome  of  the  wifeft 
legiflators  in  Europe.  The  Emprefs  of  Rufia,  the 

King  of  Sweden,  and  the  Duke  of  Tufcany,  have 

* 

nearly  extirpated  murder  from  their  dominions,  by 
converting  its  punifhments  into  the  means  of  bene¬ 
fiting  fociety,  and  reforming  the  criminals  who  per¬ 
petrate  it. 

II.  The  punifhment  of  murder  by  death  is  con¬ 
trary  to  divine  revelation .  A  religion  which  command* 


*  Voi.  3. 


1 66  ON  THE  PUNISHMENT  OF  MURDER 

us  to  forgive,  and  even  to  do  good  to,  our  enemies, 
can  never  authorife  the  punifliment  of  murder  by 
death.  <c  Vengence  is  mine/5  faid  the  Lord  *,  u  I 
will  repay.’5  It  is  to  no  purpofe  to  fay  here,  that 
this  vengeance  it  taken  out  of  the  hands  of  an  indi¬ 
vidual,  and  diredted  againft  the  criminal  by  the  hand 
of  government.  It  is  equally  an  ufurpation  of  the 
prerogative  of  heaven,  whether  it  be  inflifted  by  a 
fingle  perfon,  or  by  a  whole  community. 

Here  I  expedt  to  meet  with  an  appeal  from  the 
letter  and  fpirit  of  the  gofpel,  to  the  law  of  Mofes, 
which  declares,  “  he  that  killeth  a  man  {hall  be 
put  to  death.”  Forgive,  indulgent  heaven  !  the  ig¬ 
norance  and  cruelty  of  man,  which,  by  the  mifap- 
plication  of  this  text  of  feripture,  has  fo  long  and  fa 
often  ftained  the  religion  of  Jefus  Chrift  with  folly 
and  revenge. 

The  following  con  fide  rations,  I  hope,  will  prove 
that  no  argument  can  be  deduced  from  this  law,  to 
juftify  the  punifliment  of  murder  by  death  ; — on  the 
contrary,  that  feveral  arguments  againft  it,  may  be 
derived  from  a  juft  and  rational  explanation  of  that 
part  of  the  Levitical  inftitutions. 

i.  There  are  many  things  in  feripture  above,  but 
nothing  contrary  to,  reafon.  Now,  the  punifliment 
of  murder  by  death,  is  contrary  to  reafon.  It  cannot, 
therefore,  be  agreeable  to  the  will  of  God. 


BY  DEATH. 


t 


167 


2.  The  order  and  happinefs  of  fociety  cannot  fail 
of  being  agreeable  to  the  will  of  God.  But  the  pu- 
nifhment  of  murder  by  death,  deftroys  the  order  and 
happinefs  of  fociety.  It  mu  ft  therefore  be  contrary 
to  the  will  of  God. 


3.  Many  of  the  laws  given  by  Mofes,  were  accom- 

* 

modated  to  the  ignorance,  wickednefs,  and  “  hardnefs 
u  of  heart,”  of  the  Jews.  Hence  their  divine  legi- 
llator  exprefsly  fays,  “  I  gave  them  ftatutes  that  were 
“  not  good,  and  judgments  whereby  they  fhould  not 
live.”  Of  this,  the  law  which  refpedls  divorces,  and 
the  law  of  retaliation,  which  required,  “  an  eye  for 
41  an  eye,  and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth,”  are  remarkable 
inftances. 


But  we  are  told,  that  the  puni(hment  of  murder  by 
death,  is  founded  not  only  on  the  law  of  Mofes,  but 
upon  a  pofitive  precept  given  to  Noah  and  his  pofte- 
rity,  that  “  whofo  fheddeth  man’s  blood,  by  man  fhall 
his  blood  be  flied,”  If  the  interpretation  of  this 
text  given  in  a  former  eflay*  be  not  admitted,  I  fhall 
attempt  to  explain  it  by  remarking,  that  loon  after  the 
flood,  the  iniancy  and  weaknefs  of  fociety  rendered  it 
impoflihle  to  punifh  murder  by  confinement.  There 
was  therefore  no  medium  between  inflifling  deatli 
upon  a  murderer,  and  fufFering  him  to  efcape  with 
impunity,  and  thereby  to  perpetrate  more  a£l:s  of  vio¬ 
lence  again  ft  his  fellow  creatures.  It  pleafed  God, 
in  this  condition  of  the  world,  to  permit  a  lefs,  in 


Er. 


qmry 

A  v 


into 


mc  efrtth  ot  public  pum:h:r»«nts.  p.  j 


i6S 


ON  THE  PUNISHMENT  OF  MURDER 


order  to  prevent  a  greater  evil.  He  therefore  commits 
for  a  while  his  exclufive  power  over  human  life,  to 
his  creatures  for  the  fafety  and  prefervation  of  an 
infant  fociety,  which  might  otherwife  have  periflied, 
and  with  it,  the  only  (lock  of  the  human  race.  The 
command  indiredlly  implies  that  the  crime  of  murder 
was  not  punifhed  by  death  in  the  mature  date  of  fo- 
ciety  which  exifted  before  the  flood.  Nor  is  this  the 
only  instance  upon  record  in  the  feriptures  in  which 
God  has  delegated  his  power  over  human  life  to  his 
creatures.  Abraham  exprefles  no  furprife  at  the  com¬ 
mand  which  God  gave  him  to  facrifice  his  fon.  He 
fubmits  to  it  as  a  precept  founded  in  reafon  and  natural 

juftice,  for  nothing  could  be  more  obvious,  than  that 

« 

the  giver  of  life  had  a  right  to  claim  it,  when  and  in 
fuch  manner  as  he  pleafed.  ’Till  men  arc  able  to 
give  life,  it  becomes  them  to  tremble  at  the  thought  of 
taking  it  away.  Will  a  man  rob  God  ? — Yes — he 
robs  him  of  what  is  infinitely  dear  to  him — of  his 
darling  attribute  of  mercy,  every  time  he  deprives  a 
fellow  creature  of  life. 

4.  If  the  Mofaic  lav/,  with  refpedl  to  murder,  be 
obligatory  upon  Chriftians,  it  follows  that  it  is  equally 
obligatory  upon  them  to  punilh  adultery,  blafphemy 
and  other  capital  crimes  that  are  mentioned  in  the 
Levitical  law,  by  death.  Nor  is  this  all :  it  juftifies 
the  extirpation  of  the  Indians,  and  the  enflaving  of 
the  Africans  *,  for  the  command  to  the  Jews  to 


BY  DEATH. 


1 69 


deftroy  the  Canaanites,  and  to  make  flaves  of  their 
heathen  neighbours,  is  as  pofitive  as  the  command 
which  declares,  u  that  he  that  killeth  a  man,  (hall  furely 

be  put  to  death.” 

% 

5.  livery  part  of  the  Levitical  law,  is  full  of  types 
of  the  Mefliah.  May  not  the  punifhment  of  death, 
inflidted  by  it,  be  intended  to  reprefent  the  demerit 
and  confequences  of  fin,  as  the  cities  of  refuge  were 
the  offices  of  the  Meffiah  ?  And  may  not  the  enlarge¬ 
ment  of  murderers  who  had  fled  to  thofe  cities  of  refuge, 
upon  the  death  of  a  high  prieft,  reprefent  the  eternal 
abrogation  of  the  law  which  inflicted  death  for  murder, 
by  the  meritorious  death  of  the  Saviour  of  the  world  ? 

6.  The  imperfedtion  and  feverity  of  thefe  laws 
were  probably  intended  farther — to  illuftrate  the  per- 
fedtion  and  mildnefs  of  the  gofpel  difpenfation.  It  is 
in  this  manner  that  God  has  manifefted  himfelf  in 
many  of  his  adts.  He  created  darknefs  firft,  to  illuf¬ 
trate  by  comparifon  the  beauty  of  light,  and  he  per¬ 
mits  fin,  mifery,  and  death  in  the  moral  world,  that 
he  may  hereafter  difplay  more  illuftrioufly  the  bleffings 
of  righteoufnefs,  happinefs,  and  immortal  life.  This 
opinion  is  favoured  by  St.  Paul,  who  fays,  “  the 
“  law  made  nothing  perfedf,  and  that  it  was  a 
fC  fhadow  of  good  things  to  come.” 

How  delightful  to  difeover  fuch  an  exadt  harmony 
between  the  dictates  of  reafon,  the  order  and  hap- 

Z 


t 


I  70  ©N  THE  PUNISHMENT  01'  MURDER 

pinefs  of  fociety,  and  the  precepts  of  the  gofpel ! 
There  is  a  perfect  unity  in  truth.  Upon  all  fubjedts 
—  in  all  ages — and  in  all  countries — truths  of  every 
kind  agree  with  each  other.  I  fhall  now  take,  notice 
of  fome  of  the  common  arguments,  which  are  made 

ufe  of,  to  defend  the  punifhments  of  murder  by  death. 

\ 

I.  It  has  been  faid,  that  the  common  fenfe  of  all 
nations,  and  particularly  of  favages,  is  in  favour  of 
punifhing  murder  by  death. 

t  * 

The  common  fenfe  of  all  nations  is  in  favour  of 
the  commerce  and  flavery  of  their  fellow  creatures. 
But  this  does  not  take  away  from  their  immorality. 
Could  it  be  proved  that  the  Indians  punifh  murder 
by  death,  it  would  not  eftablifh  the  right  of  man  over 
the  life  of  a  fellow  creature  ;  for  revenge  we  know 
in  its  utmoil  extent  is  the  univerfal  and  darling  paffion 
of  all  favnge  nations.  The  practice  morcver,  (if  it 
exift )  mud  have  originated  in  necejfity  :  for  a  people 
who  have  no  fettled  place  of  refidence,  and  who  are 
averfe  from  all  labour,  could  reftrain  murder  in  no 
other  way.  But  I  am  difpofed  to  doubt  whether  the 
Indians  punifh  murder  by  death  among  their  own 
tribes.  In  all  thofe  cafes  where  a  life  is  taken  away 
by  an  Indian  of  a  foreign  tribe,  they  always  demand 
the  fatisfadfion  of  life  for  life.  But  this  pradtice  is 
founded  on  a  defire  of  preferving  a  balance  in  their 
numbers  and  power  *,  for  among  nations  which  confift 
of  only  a  few  warriors,  the  lofs  of  an  individual 


BY  DEATH. 


jyi 

* 

often  deftroys  this  balance,  and  thereby  cxpofes  them 
to  war  or  extermination.  It  is  for  the  fame  purpofe 
of  keeping  up  an  equality  in  numbers  and  power, 
that  they  often  adopt  captive  children  into  their  nations 
and  families.  What  makes  this  explanation  of  the 
pradtice  of  punifhing  murder  by  death  among  the 
Indians  more  probable,  is,  that  we  find  the  fame 
bloody  and  vindictive  fatisfadtion  is  required  of  a 
foreign  nation,  whether  the  perfon  loft,  be  killed  by 
an  accident,  or  premeditated  violence.  Many  fadts 
might  be  mentioned  from  travellers  to  prove  that  the 
Indians  do  not  punifh  murder  by  death  within  the 
jurifdidtion  of  their  own  tribes.  I  fnall  mention  only 
one,  which  is  taken  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  John  Mega- 
polenfis’s  account  of  the  Mohawk  Indians,  lately  pub- 
lifhed  in  Mr  Hazard’s  hiftorical  collection  of  ftate  pa¬ 
pers. — There  is  no  punifhment,  (fays  our  author) 
“  here  for  murder,  but  every  one  is  his  own  avenger. 
“  The  friends  of  the  deceafed  revenge  themfelves 
i(  upon  the  murderer  until  peace  is  made  with  the 
(C  next  a  kin.  But  although  they  are  fo  cruel,  yet 
((  there  are  not  half  fo  many  murders  committed 
“  among  them  as  among  Chriftians,  notwithftanding 
“  their  fevere  laws,  and  heavy  penalties/’ 

2.  It  has  been  faid,  that  the  horrors  of  a  guilty 
confcience  proclaim  the  juftice  and  necefiity  of  death, 
as  a  punifhment  for  murder.  I  draw  an  argument  of 
another  nature  from  this  fadl.  Are  the  horrors  of 
confidence  the  pumihment  that  God  inflidts  upon 


172  ON  THE  PUNISHMENT  OF  MURDER 

murder  ?  Why,  then  fhould  we  fhorten  or  deflroy 
them  by  death,  efpecially  as  we  are  taught  to  direft 
the  molt  atrocious  murderers  to  expcCf  pardon  in  the 
future  world  ?  No,  let  us  not  counteract  the  govern- 
ment  of  God  in  the  human  breaft :  let  the  murderer 
live — but  let  it  be  to  fuffer  the  reproaches  of  a  guilty 
confcience  ;  let  him  live,  to  make  compenfation  to 

t  • 

fociety  for  the  injury  he  has  done  it,  by  robbing  it  of 
a  citizen  ;  let  him  live  to  maintain  the  family  of  the 
man  whom  he  has  murdered  ;  let  him  live,  that  the 
punifhment  of  his  crime  may  become  universal ;  and, 
laflly,  let  him  live,  that  murder  may  be  extirpated 
from  the  lift  of  human  crimes  ! 

Let  us  examine  the  conduct  of  the  moral  Ruler  of 
the  world  towards  the  frrft  murderer. — See  Cain, 
returning  from  his  field,  with  his  hands  reeking  with 
the  blood  of  his  brother  !  Bo  the  heavens  gather 
olacknefs,  and  does  a  flafh  of  lightning  blafl  him  to 
the  earth  ?  No.  Does  his  father  Adam,  the  natural 
legiflator  and  judge  of  the  world,  inflict  upon  him 
the  punifhment  of  death  ?  No.  The  infinitely  wife 
God  becomes  his  judge  and  executioner.  He  expels 
him  from  the  fociety  of  which  he  was  a  member.  He 
fixes  in  his  confcience  a  never  dying  worm.  He  fub- 
jedts  him  to  the  neceflity  of  labour  >  and  to  fecure  a 
duration  of  his  punifhment,  proportioned  to  Ids  crime, 
he  puts  a  mark  of  prohibition  upon  him,  to  prevent 
his  being  put  to  death,  by  weak  and  angry  men  \ 
declaring,  at  the  fame  time,  that  i(  whofoever  flayeth 


BY  DEATH. 


*73 


«  Cain,  vengeance  fhall  be  taken  on  him  feven- 
<c  fold. 


But  farther,  if  a  neceffary  connection  exifted  be¬ 
tween  the  crime  of  murder  and  death  in  the  mind 
and  laws  of  the  Deity,  how  comes  it  that  Mofes  and 
David  efcaped  it?  They  both  imbrued  their  hands  in 
innocent  blood,  and  yet  the  horrors  of  a  guilty  con- 
fcience  were  their  only  punifhment.  The  fubfequent 
conduCt  of  thofe  two  great  and  good  men,  proves  that 
the  heart  may  retain  a  found  part  after  committing 
murder,  and  that  even  murderers,  after  repentance, 
may  be  the  vehicles  of  great  temporal  and  fpiritual 
blefiings  to  mankind. 


3.  The  declaration  of  St.  Paul  before  Feftus,  refpedt- 
ing  the  punifhment  of  death, *  and  the  fpeech  of  the 
dying  thief  on  the  crofs,i  are  faid  to  prove  the  lawful- 
nefs  of  punifhing  murder  by  death  :  but  they  prove 
only  that  the  punifhment  of  death  w'as  agreeable  to  the 
Roman  law.  Human  life  was  extremely  cheap  under 
the  Roman  government.  Of  this  we  need  no  further 
proof  than  the  head  of  John  the  Baptift  forming  a  part 
of  a  royal  entertainment.  From  the  frequency  of  pub¬ 
lic  executions,  among  thofe  people,  *the  /word  was 
confidered  as  an  emblem  of  public  juftice.  But  to 


*  (<  For  if  I  be  an  offender,  and  have  committed  any  thing  worthy  of 
<c  death,  I  refufe  not  to  die." - Afts  xxv.  and  11. 

f  (i  We  indeed"  fuffer  (C  juftly>  for  we  receive  the  due  reward  of  our 
Lulce  xxiii.  and  41. 


**deeds." 


174  on  the  punishment  of  murder 

fuppofe,  from  the  appeals  which  arc  fumetimes  made 
to  it  as  a  fign  of  juftice,  that  capital  punifhments  are 
approved  of  in  the  New  Teftament,  is  as  abfura  as 
it  would  be  to  fuppofe  that  horfe-racifig  was  a  chrifhian 
exercife,  from  St.  PauFs  frequent  allufions  to  the 
Olympic  games. 

The  declaration  of  the  barbarians  upon  feeing  the 
fnake  fafeen  upon  St.  Paul's  hand,  proves  nothing  but 
the  ignorance  of  thofe  uncivilized  people  *, — cc  and 
iC  when  the  barbarians  faw  the  venomous  beaft  hang  on 
€t  his  hand,  they  faid  among  themfelves,  no  doubt  this 
tc  man  is  a  murderer,  whom,  though  he  hath  efcaped 
“  the  fea,  yet  vengeance  fuffereth  not  to  live.” — Ads 
xvii.  and  4th. 

Here  it  will  be  proper  to  diflinguifh  between  the 
fenfe  of  juftice  fo  univerfal  among  all  nations,  and  an 
approbation  of  death  as  a  puniihment  for  murder. 
The  former  is  written  by  the  finger  of  God  upon 
every  human  heart,  but  like  his  own  attribute  of 
juftice,  it  lias  the  happinefs  of  individuals  and  of 
fociety  for  its  o'bjeds.  It  is  always  milled,  when  it 
feeks  for  fatisfadion  in  punifhments  that  are  injurious 
to  fociety,  cr  that  are  difpropertioned  to  crimes.  The 
fatisfadion  of  this  univerfal  fenfe  of  juftice  by  the 

<L 

punifhments  of  imprifonment  and  labour,  would  far 
exceed  that  which  is  derived  from  the  puniihment  of 
death ;  for  it  would  be  of  longer  duration,  and  it 
would  more  frequently  occur  j  for,  upon  a  principle 


BY  DEATH. 


formerly  mentioned,  fcarcely  any  fpecies  of  murder 
would  efcape  with  impuuity.f 

The  conduct  and  difcourfes  of  our  Saviour  fhould 
outweigh  every  argument  that  has  been  or  can  be 
offered  in  favour  of  capital  punifhment  for  any  crime 
When  the  woman  caught  in  adultery  was  brought  to 
him,  he  evaded  inflicting  the  bloody  fentence  of  the 
Jewifh  law  upon  her  Even  the  maiming  of  the  body 
appears  to  be  ofFenfive  in  his  fight  ;  for  when  Peter 
drew  his  fword,  and  fmote  off*  the  ear  of  the  fervant 
of  the  high  priefl,  he  replaced  it  by  miracle,  and  at 
the  fame  time  declared,  that  “  all  they  who  take  the 

fword,  {hail  perifh  with  the  fword.”  Ke  forgave 
the  crime  of  murder,  on  his  crofs  ;  and  after  his  re- 
furreCtion,  he  commanded  his  difciples  to  preach  the 
gofpel  of  forgivenefs,  firjl  at  Jerufalem,  where  he 
well  knew  his  murderers  dill  refided.  Thefe  ftriking 
facls  are  recorded  for  our  imitation,  and  feem  intended 
to  fhew  that  the  Son  of  God  died,  not  only  to  re¬ 
concile  God  to  man,  but  to  reconcile  men  to  each 
other.  There  is  one  paffage  more,  in  the  hiftory  of 
our  Saviour’s  life  which  would  of  itfelf  overfet  the 

t  A  fealc  od  pumihments,  by  means  of  imprifonme^t  and  labour,  mi 3 he 
eafily  be  contrived,  fo  as  to  be  accomodated  to  the  dilTerent  degrees  of 
atrocity  in  murder.  For  example— far  the  fir  ft  or  higheft  degree  of  guilt, 
let  the  punifhment  be  folitude  and  darknefs,  and  a  total  <waut  of  employ  - 
ment.  For  the  fecond,  folitude  and  labour,  with  the  benefit  of  light. 
For  the  third,  confinement  and  labour.  The  duralhn  of  thefe  puRifhments 
fhould  like vvife  be  governed  by  the  atrocity  of  the  murder,  and  by  the 
figns  of  contrition  and  amendment  in  the  criminal 


I*]i5  ON  THE  PUNISHMENT  OF  MURDER 

juftice  of  the  punifhmcnt  of  death  for  murder,  if 
every  other  part  of  the  Bible  had  been  filent  upon  the 
fubje£t.  When  two  of  his  difciples,  actuated  by  the 
fpirit  of  vindictive  legiflators,  requefted  permiflion 
of  him  to  call  down  fire  from  Heaven  to  confume  the 
inhofpitable  Samaritans,  he  anfwered  them  <<  The 
“  Son  of  Man  is  not  come  to  dejlroy  men’s  lives  but 
u  to  fave  them.”  I  wifii  thefe  words  compofed  the 
motto  of  the  arms  of  every  nation  upon  the  face  of 
the  earth.  They  inculcate  every  duty  that  is  calcula¬ 
ted  to  preferve,  reftore,  or  prolong  human  life. 
They  militate  alike  againft  war — and  capital  punifli- 
ments — the  objects  of  which,  are  the  unprofitable  de- 
ftruction  of  the  lives  of  men.  How  precious  does  a 
human  life  appear  from  thefe  words,  in  the  fight  of 
heaven  !  Paufe,  Legiflators,  when  you  give  your 
votes  for  inflicting  the  puniihmcnt  of  death  for  any 
crime  You  fruftrate  in  one  inllance,  the  defign  of 
the  million  of  the  Son  of  God  into  the  world,  and 
thereby  either  deny  his  appearance  in  the  flefh,  or 
rejeCt  the  truth  of  his  gofpel.  You,  moreover, 
ftrengthen  by  your  conduCt  the  arguments  of  the 
Dents  againft  the  particular  doCtrines  of  the  Chrifti- 
an  revelation.  You  do  more,  you  preferve  a  bloody 
fragment  of  the  Jewifh  inftitutions. — u  The  Son  of . 
<c  Man  came  not  to  dejlroy  men’s  lives,  but  to  fave 
“  them.”  Excellent  words  !  I  require  no  others  to 
fatisfy  me  of  the  truth  and  divine  original  of  the  Chrif- 
tian  religion ;  and  while  I  am  able  to  place  a  finger, 
upon  this  text  of  feripture,  I  will  not  believe  an  angel 


/ 


BY  DEATH.  1 77 

from  heaven,  fhould  he  declare  that  the  punifliment 
of  death,  for  any  crime,  was  inculcated,  or  permitted 
by  the  fpirit  of  the  gofpel. 


The  precious  nature  of  human  life  in  the  eyes  of 
the  Saviour  of  mankind,  appears  further  in  the  compa¬ 
rative  value  which  he  has  placed  upon  it  in  the  fol¬ 
lowing  words. *  “  For  what  is  a  man  profited,  if  he 

fhall  gain  the  whole  world,  &  lofe  his  life,  or  what 
fhall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his  life”  I  have  re¬ 
jected  the  word  foul  which  is  ufed  in  the  common 
tranflation  of  this  verfe.  The  original  word  in  the 
Greek,  fignifies  life^  and  it  is  thus  happily  and  juftly 
tranflated  in  the  verfe  which  precedes  it. 


■ 

4.  It  has  been  faid,  that  a  man  who  has  committed 
a  murder,  has  difeovered  a  malignity  of  heart,  that 
renders  him  ever  afterwards  unfit  to  live  in  human 

fociety.  This  is  by  no  means  true  in  many,  and 

• 

perhaps  in  moft  of  the  cafes  of  murder.  It  is  mofl 
frequently  the  effeCt  of  a  fudden  guft  of  paflion,  and 
has  fometimes  been  the  only  (lain  of  a  well-fpent,  or 
inoffenfive  liFe.  There  are  many  crimes  which  unfit 
a  fnan  much  more  for  human  fociety,  than  a  fingle 
murder  •,  and  there  have  been  inftances  of  murderers, 
who  have  efcaped,  or  bribed  the  laws  of  their  coun¬ 
try,  who  have  afterwards  become  peaceable  and  ufeful 
members  of  fociety.  Let  it  not  be  fuppofed  that  I 


*  Matthew,  x.  v.  26. 

A  a 


1 


178  ON  THE  PUNISHMENT  OF  MURDER 

wifh  to  palliate,  by  this  remark,  the  enormity  of 
murder.  Far  from  it.  It  is  only  becaufe  I  view 
murder  with  fuch  fuperlative  horror,  that  I  wifh  t° 
deprive  our  laws  of  the  power  of  perpetuating  and 
encouraging  it. 

It  has  been  faid,  that  the  confeflions  of  murderers 
have,  in  many  inftances,  fandtioned  the  juftice  of  their 
punifhment.  I  do  not  wifh  to  leflen  the  influence 
of  fuch  vulgar  errors  as  tend  to  prevent  crimes,  but 
I  will  venture  to  declare,  that  many  more  murderers 
efcape  difcovery,  than  are  detected,  or  punifhed. — * 
Were  I  not  afraid  of  trefpaffing  upon  the  patience  of 
my  readers,  I  might  mention  a  number  of  faffs,  in 
which  circumflances  of  the  moft  trifling  nature  have 
become  the  means  of  detecting  theft  and  forgery ; 
from  which  I  could  draw  as  ftrong  proofs  of  the 
watchfulnefs  of  Providence  over  the  property  of 
individuals,  and  the  order  of  fociety,  as  have  been 
drawn  from  the  deteflion  of  murder.  I  might  mention 
inltances,  likewife,  of  perfons  in  whom  confcience 
has  produced  reflitution  for  flolen  goods,  or  confeflion 
of  the  juftice  of  the  punifhment  which  was  infliffed 
for  theft.  Confcience  and  knowledge  always  keep 
pace  with  each  other,  both  with  refpedt  to  divine 
and  human  laws. 

The  acquiefcence  of  murderers  in  the  juftice  of 
their  execution,  is  the  effect  of  prejudice  and  educa¬ 
tion.  It  cannot  flow  from  a  confcience  afting  iff 


BY  DEATH. 


I79 


concert  with  ieafon  or  religion — for  they  both  fpeak 
a  very  different  language. 

The  world  has  certainly  undergone  a  material 
change  for  the  better  within  the  lafl  two  hundred 
years.  This  change  has  been  produced  chiefly,  by 
the  fecret  and  unacknowledged  influence  of  Chriftianity 
upon  the  hearts  of  men.  It  is  agreeable  to  trace  the 
effects  of  the  Chriftian  religion  in  the  extirpation  of 
flavery — in  the  diminution  of  the  number  of  capital 
punilhments,  and  in  the  mitigation  of  the  horrors  of 
war.  There  was  a  time  when  mafters  poffeffed  a 

•  _  i 

power  over  the  lives  of  their  flaves.  But  Chriftianity 
has  depofed  this  power,  and  mankind  begin  to  fee 
every  where  that  flavery  is  alike  contrary  to  the  interefts 
of  fociety,  and  the  fpirit  of  the  gofpel.  There  was  a 
time  when  torture  was  part  of  the  punifhment  of  death, 

*  *  "  y  "n  »  v 

and  when  the  number  of  capital  crimes  in  Great 
Britain,  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  fixty-one. — 
Chriftianity  has  abolifhed  the  former,  and  reduced 
the  latter  to  not  more  than  fix  or  feven.  It  has  done 
more.  It  has  confined,  in  fome  inftances,  capital 
punifhments  to  the  crime  of  murder — and  in  fome 
countries  it  has  abolifhed  it  altogether.  The  influence 
of  Chriftianity  upon  the  modes  of  war,  has  ftill  been 
more  remarkable.  It  is  agreeable  to  trace  its  progrefs# 

I  ft.  In  refcuing  women  and  children  from  being 
the  objects  of  the  deflations  of  war,  in  common 
with  men. 


l8o  ON  THE  PUNISHMENT  OF  MURDER 

2dly.In  preventing  the  dedru&ion  of  captives  taken 
in  battle,  in  cold  blood. 

3dly.  In  protecting  the  peaceable  hufbandman  from 
fharing  in  the  carnage  of  war. 

4thly.  In  producing  an  exchange  of  prifoners, 

indead  of  dooming  them  to  perpetual  flavery. 

#  -  . 

5thly.  In  avoiding  the  invafion  or  dedru&ion,  in 

certain  cafes,  of  private  property. 

6thly.  In  declaring  all  wars  to  be  unlawful  but 
fuch  as  are  purely  defenfive. 

This  is  the  only  tenure  by  which  war  now  holds 
its  place  among  Chriftians.  It  requires  but  litle  in¬ 
genuity  to  prove  that  a  defenfive  war  cannot  be  car¬ 
ried  on  fuccefsfully  without  offenfive  operations. 
Already  the  princes  and  nations  of  the  world  difcover 
the  druggies  of  opinion  or  confcience  in  their  pre¬ 
parations  for  war.  AVitnefs  the  many  national  dif- 
putes  which  have  been  lately  terminated  in  Europe 
by  negociation,  or  mediation.  Witnefs  too,  the 
edablifhment  of  the  conflitution  of  the  United  States 
without  force  or  bloodihed.  Thefe  events  indicate 
an  improving  date  of  human  affairs.  They  lead  us 
to  look  forward  with  expectation  to  the  time,  when 
the  weapons  of  war  fhall  be  changed  into  implements 
of  hufbandry,  and  when  rapine  and  violence  fliall  be 
no  more.  Thefe  events  are  the  promifed  fruits  of 
the  gofpel.  If  they  do  not  come  to  pafs,  the  prophets 


BY  DEATH.  l8l 

have  deceived  us.  But  if  they  do — war  mud  be  a* 
contrary  to  the  fpirit  of  the  gofpel,  as  fraud,  or  mur¬ 
der,  or  any  other  of  the  vices  which  are  reproved  or 
extirpated  by  it. 

P.  S.  Since  the  publication  of  this  effay  and  the 
preceeding  one,  the  Author  has  had  the  pleafure  ot 
feeing  his  principles  reduced  to  practice  in  the 
State  of  Pennfylvania,  in  the  abolition  of  the  punifh- 
ment  of  death  for  all  crimes,  (the  higheft  degree  of 
muider  excepted)  and  in  private  punifhments  being 
fubllituted  to  thofe  which  were  public.  The  effeCts 
of  this  reformation  in  the  penal  laws  of  our  (late  have 
been,  a  remarkable  diminution  of  crimes  of  all  kinds, 
and  a  great  encreafe  of  convictions  in  a  given  num¬ 
ber  of  offenders.  The  expenfes  of  the  houie  appro¬ 
priated  to  the  punifhment  of  criminals  have  been  more 
than  defrayed  by  the  profits  of  their  labor.  Many 
of  them  have  been  reformed,  and  become  ufeful 
members  of  fociety,  and  very  few  have  relapfed  into 
former  habits  of  vice. 

The  Author  is  happy  in  adding,  that  a  reformation 
in  the  penal  laws  of  the  dates  of  New  York  and 
New  Jcrfey  has  taken  place,  jiearly  fimilar  to  that 
which  has  been  mentioned,  in  Pennfylvania. 

It  would  be  an  aCt  of  injuftice  in  this  place  not 
to  acknowledge  that  the  principles  contained  in  the 
foregoing  effays,  would  probably  have  never  been  realiz¬ 
ed,  had  they  not  been  fupported  and  enforced  by  the  clo- 


( 


l82  on  the  punishment  of  MURDER,  & c* 
quence  of  the  late  William  Bradford  Efq.  and  the 

i  % 

zeal  of  Caleb  Lownes.  To  both  thefe  gentlemen, 
humanity  and  reafon  owe  great  obligations.  Mr. 
Lownes  has  demonftrated  by  fa£ls,  the  fuccefs  0£ 
fehemes  of  philanthrophy,  once  deemed  vifionary  and 
impra&icable.  His  plans  for  employing,  and  reform¬ 
ing  his  unfortunate  fellow  creatures  in  the  Philadelphia 

prifon,  difcover  great  knowledge  of  the  oeconomy  of 

. 

the  body,  and  of  the  principles  of  action  in  the 
mind.  To  comprehend  fully  the  ingenuity  and  bene¬ 
volence  of  thefe  plans,  it  will  be  neceffary  to  vifit  the 

.  -  .  ...  •  *  „  .  • 

prifon.  There  fcience  and  religion  exhibit  a  triumph 

over  vice  and  mifery,  infinitely  more  fublime  and 
affecting,  than  all  the  monuments  of  ancient  conquefts. 

It  is  thus  the  father  of  the  human  race  has  decreed 

»  *  ' 

the  ultimate  extermination  of  all  evil,  viz.  by  mani- 
feftations  of  love  to  his  fallen  creatures.  For  the 
details  of  the  difcipline,  order,  products  of  Labor,  &c. 
of  this  prifon,  the  reader  is  referred  to  two  elegant 
pamphlets,  the  one  by  Mr.  De  Liancourt,  of  France* 
the  other  by  Mr.  Turnbull  of  South  Carolina. 

July,  4  1797. 


1 


A  plan  of  a  Peace- Off  ice  for  the  United 

S  tates. 


AMONG  the  defedls  which  have  been  point¬ 
ed  out  in  the  federal  conftitution  by  its 
antifederal  enemies,  it  is  much  to  be  lamented  that  no 
perfon  lias  taken  notice  of  its  total  filence  upon  the 
fubjeft  of  an  office  of  the  utmoft  importance  to  the 
welfare  of  the  United  States,  that  is,  an  office  for  pro¬ 
moting  and  preferving  perpetual  peace  in  our  country. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  no  Objection  will  be  made 
to  the  eRablifhment  of  fuch  an  office,  while  we  are 
engaged  in  a  war  with  the  Indians,  for  as  the  War- 
Office  of  the  United  States  was  eftablifhed  in  the  time 
°fp  eace ,  it  is  equally  reafonable  that  a  Peace-Office  fhould 
be  eftablifhed  in  the  time  of  ‘war. 

The  plan  of  this  office  is  as  follows  t 

>  » 

I.  Let  a  Secretary  of  the  Peace  be  appointed  to 
prefide  in  this  office,  who  (hall  be  perfectly  free  from 
all  the  prefent  abfurd  and  vulgar  European  preju¬ 
dices  upon  the  fubje£t  of  government  ;  let  him  be  a 
genuine  republican  and  a  frncere  Chriftian,  for  the  prin¬ 
ciples  of  republicanifm  and  Chriftianity  are  no  lefs 
friendly  to  univerfal  and  perpetual  peace,  than  they 
are  to  univerfal  and  equal  liberty. 


§ 


184  A  PLAN  OF  A  PEACE  OFFICE 

II.  Let  a  power  be  given  to  this  Secretary  to  efta- 
bliili  and  maintain  free-fchools  in  every  city,  village 
and  townfhip  of  the  United  States  ;  and  let  him  be 
made  refponfible  for  the  talents,  principles. and  morals* 
of  all  his  fchoolmafters.  Let  the  youth  of  our  country 
be  carefully  inftrudled  in  reading,  writing,  arithmetic, 
and  in  the  doctrines  of  a  religion  of  fome  kind  :  the 
Chriftian  religion  fhould  be  preferred  to  all  others  ; 
for  it  belongs  to  this  religion  exclufively  to  teach  us 
not  only  to  cultivate  peace  with  men,  but  to  forgive, 
nay  more — to  love  our  very  enemies.  It  belongs  to  it 
further  to  teach  us  that  the  Supreme  Being  alone  pof- 
fefles  a  power  to  take  away  human  life,  and  that  we 
rebel  againft  his  laws,  whenever  wre  undertake  to 
execute  death  in  any  way  whatever  upon  any  of  his 

4 

creatures. 

III.  Let  every  family  in  the  United  States  be  fur- 
nifhed  at  the  public  expenfe,  by  the  Secretary  of  this 
office,  with  a  copy  of  an  American  edition  of  the 
bible.  This  meafure  has  become  the  more  necefiary 
in  our  country,  fince  the  baniffiment  of  the  bible,  as  a 
fehool-book,  from  moft  of  the  fchools  in  the  United 
States.  Unlefs  the  price  of  this  book  be  paid  for  by 
the  public,  there  is  reafon  to  fear  that  in  a  few  years 
it  will  be  met  with  only  in  courts  of  juftice  or  in 
magiflrates’  offices ;  and  fhould  the  abfurd  mode  of 
eftablifhing  truth  by  killing  this  facred  book  fall  into 
difufe,  it  may  probably,  in  the  courfe  of  the  next 


/ 

0 

FOR  THE  UNITED  STATES.  185 

generation,  be  feen  only  as  a  curiofity  on  a  fhelf 
in  a  public  mufeum. 

IV.  Let  the  following  fentcnce  be  infcribed  in  letters 
of  gold  over  the  doors  of  every  State  and  Court  houfe 
in  the  United  States. 

THE  SON  OF  MAN  CAME  INTO  THE  WORLD,  NOT  TO 
DESTROY  MEN’S  LIVES,  BUT  TO  SAVE  THEM. 

V.  To  infpire  a  veneration  for  human  life,  and  an 
horror  at  the  fhedding  of  human  blood,  let  all  thofe 
laws  be  repealed  which  authorife  juries,  judges,  (heriiis, 
or  hangmen  to  aflume  the  refentments  01  individuals 
and  to  commit  murder  in  cold  blood  in  any  cafe 
whatever.  Until  this  reformation  in  our  code  of  penal 
jurifprudence  takes  place,  it  will  be  in  vain  to  attempt  to 
introduce  univerfal  and  perpetual  peace  in  our  country. 

VI.  To  fubdue  that  paflion  for  war,  which  educa¬ 
tion,  added  to  human  depravity,  have  made  univerfal,  a 
familiarity  with  the  inftruments  of  death,  as  well 
as  all  military  (hows,  fhould  be  carefully  avoided. 
For  which  reafon,  militia  laws  fhould  every  where 
be  repealed,  and  military  drefies  and  military  titles 
fhould  be  laid  afide :  reviews  tend  to  leflen  the 
horrors  of  a  battle  by  connecting  them  with  the 
charms  of  order ;  militia  laws  generate  idlenefs 
and  vice,  and  thereby  produce  the  wars  they  are 
faid  to  prevent  5  military  drefles  fafcinate  the  minds 

B  b 


*86  A  PLAN  OF  A  PEACE  OFFICE 

♦ 

of  young  men,  and  lead  them  from  ferlous  and  ufeful 
profeffions  ;  were  there  no  uniforms ,  there  would  pro¬ 
bably  be  no  armies  •,  laftly,  military  titles  feed  vanity, 
and  keep  up  ideas  in  the  mind  which  leflen  a  fenfe  of 
the  folly  and  miferiss  of  war. 

\  II.  In  the  laft  place,  let  a  large  room,  adjoining 
the  federal  hall,  be  appropriated  for  tranfafting  the 
bufinefs  and  preferving  all  the  records  of  this  office . 
Over  the  door  of  this  room  let  there  be  a  fign,  on 
which  the  figures  of  a  lamb,  a  dove  and  an  olive 
branch  fhould  be  painted,  together  with  the  follow¬ 
ing  inferiptions  in  letters  of  geld  : 

PEACE  ON  EARTH  —  GOOD-WILL  TO  MAN. 

AH!  WHY  WILL  MEN  FORGET  THAT  THEY  ARE 

BRETHREN  ? 

Within  this  apartment  let  there  be  a  colledticn 
of  ploughlhares  and  pruning-hooks  made  out  of 
fwords  and  fpears  \  and  on  each  of  the  walls  of  the 
apartment,  the  following  pictures  as  large  as  the 
life  : 

\ 

1.  A  lion  eating  draw  with  an  ox,  and  an  adder 
playing  upon  the  lips  of  a  child. 

2.  An  Indian  boiling  his  venifon  in  the  fame  pot 
with  a  citizen  of  Kentucky. 

3.  Lord  Cornwallis  and  Tippoo  Saib,  under  the 
fhade  of  a  fycamore-tree  in  the  Eaft  Indies,  drinking 
Madeira  wine  together  out  of  the  fame  decanter. 


FOR  THE  UNITED  STATES  1 87 

/ 

4 

4.  A  group  of  French  and  Auftrian  foldiers  danc- 

/ 

ing  arm  and  arm,  under  a  bower  ercdled  in  the  neigh¬ 
bourhood  of  Mons. 

5.  A  St.  Domingo  planter,  a  man  of  color,  and  a 
native  of  Africa,  legiflating  together  in  the  fame  colonial 
affembly.f 

To  complete  the  entertainment  of  this  delightful 
apartment,  let  a  group  of  young  ladies,  clad  in  white 
robes  affemble  every  day  at  a  certain  hour,  in  a  gallery 
to  be  eredted  for  the  purpofe,  and  fing  odes,  and 
hymns,  and  anthems  in  praife  of  the  bleffings  of  peace. 

One  of  thefe  fongs  ffiould  confift  of  the  following 
lines. 

Peace  o’er  the  world  her  olive  wand  extends. 

And  white -rob’d  innocence  from  heaven  defeends  j 
All  crimes  fhall  ceafe,  and  ancient  frauds  fhall  fail, 

Returning  ju Rice  lifts  aloft  her  feale. 

1 

In  order  more  deeply  to  affect  the  minds  of  the  citi¬ 
zens  of  the  United  States  with  the  bleffings  of  peace,  by 
contrcijling  them  with  the  evils '  of  war,  let  the  follow¬ 
ing  inferiptions  be  painted  upon  the  fign,  which  is 
placed  over  the  door  of  the  War  Office. 

1.  An  office  for  butchering  the  human  fpecies. 

2.  A  Widow  and  Orphan  making  office. 

At  the  time  of  writing  this,  there  exifted  wars  between  the  United 
States  and  the  American  Indians,  between  the  Britilh  nation  and  Tippoo 
Saib,  between  the  planters  of  St  Domingo  and  their  African  flaves,  an^ 
between  the  French  nation  and  the  emperor  of  Germany. 


1 88 


A  PLAN  OF  A  PEACE  OFFICE,  &C. 


3.  A  broken  bone  making  office. 

I 

4.  A  Wooden  leg  making  office. 

5.  An  office  for  creating  public  and  private  vices. 

6.  An  office  for  creating  a  public  debt. 

7.  An  office  for  creating  fpeculators,  flock  Jobbers, 
and  Bankrupts. 

8.  An  office  for  creating  famine. 

9  An  office  for  creating  peftilential  difeafes. 

10.  An  office  for  creating  poverty,  and  the  deflruc- 
tion  of  liberty,  and  national  happinefs. 

In  the  lobby  of  this  office  let  there  be  painted  re- 
prefentations  of  all  the  common  military  inftruments 
of  death,  alfo  human  fkulls,  broken  bones,  unburied 
and  putrifying  dead  bodies,  hfcfpitals  crouded  with 
Tick  and  wounded  Soldiers,  villages  on  fire,  mothers 
in  befieged  towns  eating  the  flefh  of  their  children, 
{hips  finking  in  the  ocean,  rivers  dyed  with  blood, 
and  extenfive  plains  without  a  tree  or  fence,  or  any 
other  objedl,  but  the  ruins  of  deferted  farm  houfes. 

Above  this  group  of  woeful  figures, — let  the 
following  words  be  inferted,  in  red  characters  to  re- 
prefent  human  blood, 

“  NATIONAL  GLORY.” 


'■  .  -  -  1  -  — 

0 

Information  to  Europeans  who  are  disposed 

TO  M  I  GRATE  TO  THE  Un  ITED  STATES  OF  A  MERICA. 
In  a  LETTER  TO  A  FRIEND  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

1 


AGREEABLY  to  vour  requeft  contained  in 
your  letter  of  the  29th  of  Auguft,  1 7S9* 

I  have  at  laft  fat  down  to  communicate  fuch  fa£ts  to  you, 
upon  the  fubjeff  of  migration  to  this  country,  as  have 
been  the  refult  of  numerous  enquiries  and  obfervation. 

I  am  aware  that  this  fubjeft  has  been  handled  in  a  maf- 
terly  manner  by  Doctor  Franklin,  in  his  excellent  little 
pamplet  entitled  “  Advice  to  thofe  who  would  with 
“  to  remove  to  America, ”  but  as  that  valuable  little 
work  is  very  general,' and  as  many  important  changes 
have  occurred  in  the  affairs  of  the  United  States  fmce 
its  publication,  I  {hall  endeavour  to  comply  with  your 
wifhes,  by  adding  fuch  things  as  have  been  omitted  by 
the  Do£tor,  and  fhail  accommodate  them  to  the  * 
prefent  ftate  of  our  country. 

I  fhail  begin  this  letter  by  mentioning  the  defcrip- 
tions  of  people,  who  ought  not  to  come  to  America. 

*  I.  Men  of  independent  fortunes  who  can  exift  only 
in  company,  and  who  can  converfe  only  upon  public 
amufements,  fliould  not  think  of  fettling  in  the 
United  States.  I  have  known  feveral  men  of  that 
character  in  this  country,  who  have  rambled  from  State 


IQQ  INFORMATION  TO  EUROPEANS 

to  State,  complaining  of  the  dulnefs  of  each  of  them, 
and  who  have  finally  returned  and  renewed  their  for¬ 
mer  connexions  and  pleafures  in  Europe. 

II.  Literary  men,  who  have  no  profeflional  purfuits, 
will  often  languifh  in  America,  from  the  want  of 
fociety.  Our  authors  and  fcholars  are  generally  men 
ofbufmefs,  and  make  their  literary  purfuits  fubfervient 
to  their  interefls.  A  lounger  in  book  ftores,  breakfafting 
parties  for  the  purpofe  of  literary  converfation,  and 
long  attic  evenings,  are  as  yet  but  little  known  in  this 
country.  Our  companies  are  generally  mixed,  and 
converfation  in  them  is  a  medley  of  ideas  upon  all 
fubjects.  They  begin  as  in  England  with  the  weather 
- — foon  run  into  politics  — nowand  then  diverge  into  li¬ 
terature — and  commonly  conclude  with  faCts  relative  to 
commerce,  manufactures  and  agriculture,  and  the  heft 
means  of  acquiring  and  improving  an  cftate.  Men, 
who  are  philofophers  or  poets,  without  other  purfuits, 
had  better  end  their  clays  in  an  old  country. 

III,  The  United  States  as  yet  afford  hut  little  en¬ 
couragement  to  the  profeflers  oi  moft  of  the  fine  arts, 
painting  and  fculpture  flourifh  chiefly  in  wealthy  and 
luxurious  countries.  Our  native  American  portrait 
painters  who  have  not  fought  protection  and  encou- 

t 

ragement  in  Great  Britain,  have  been  obliged  to  travel 

t  • 

occafionally  from  one  State  to  another  in  order  to 
fupport  themfelves.  The  teachers  of  mufic  have  been 
more  fortunate  in  America.  A  tafte  for  this  accom- 


-  ^ 


MIGRATING  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES.  I9I 

plHhment  prevails  very  generally  in  our  large  cities  : 

✓ 

and  eminent  mailers  in  that  art,  who  have  arrived 

here  fince  the  peace,  have  received  coniiderable  fums 

.  .  ' 

of  money  by  exercifmg  their  profeffion  among  us. 

I  Ill  all  now  mention  thofe  defcriptions  of  people, 
who  may  better  their  condition  by  coming  to  America. 

I.  To  the  cultivators  of  the  earth  the  United  States 
open  the  firft  afylum  in  the  world.  To  infure  the 
fuccefs  and  happinefs  of  an  European  Farmer  in  our 
country,  it  is  neceiTary  to  advife  him  either  to  purchafe 
or  to  rent  a  farm  which  has  undergone  fome  improve- 

ji  •  •  t  i 

ment. 

—  * 
Thebufmefs  of  fettling  a  new  tract  of  land,  and  that 

of  improving  a  farm,  are  of  a  very  different  nature. 
The  former  mu  ft  be  effected  by  the  native  American  > 
who  is  accuftomed  to  the  ufe  of  the  axe  and  the  grub¬ 
bing  hoe,  and  who  poiTefTes  almoft  exclufively  a  know¬ 
ledge  of  all  the  peculiar  and  namelefs  arts  of  felf-prefer- 
vation  in  the  woods.  I  have  known  many  inftances  of 
Europeans  who  have  fpent  all  their  cafh  in  uniuccefs- 
ful  attempts  to  force  a  fettlement  in  the  wildernefs, 
and  who  have  afterwards  been  expofed  to  poverty  and 
diftrefs  at  a  great  difiance  from  friends  and  even 
neighbours.  I  would  therefore  advife  all  farmers 
with  moderate  capitals,  to  purchafe  or  rent  improved 
farms  in  the  old  fettlements  of  our  States.  The  price 
and  rent  of  thefe  farms  are  different  in  die  different 
parts  of  the  union.  In  Pennfylvania^  the  price  of  farms 


!p2  INFORMATION  TO  EUROPEANS 

is  regulated  by  the  quality  of  the  land — by  the  value  oi 
the  improvements  which  are  erected  upon  it — by  their 
vicinity  to  fea  ports  and  navigable  water — and  by  the 
good  or  bad  flate  of  the  roads  which  lead  to  them. 
There  is  a  great  variety,  of  courfe,  in  the  price  of  farms  : 
while  fome  of  them  have  been  fold  for  five  guineas — 
others  have  been  fold  at  lower  prices,  down  to  one  gui¬ 
nea,  and  even  half  a  guinea  per  acre,  according  as  they 
were  varied  by  the  above  circumftances. 


It  is  not  expefled  that  the  whole  price  of  a  farm 
fhould  be  paid  at  the  time  of  purchafing  it.  An 
half,  a  third,  or  a  fourth,  is  all  that  is  generally  re¬ 
quired.  Bonds  and  mortgages  are  given  for  the  re¬ 
mainder,  (and  fometimes  without  intereft)  payable  in 
rwo,  three,  five,  or  even  ten  years. 


The  value  of  thcfe  farms  has  often  been  doubled 

« 

and  even  trebled,  in  a  few  years,  where  the  new  mode 
of  agriculture  has  been  employed  in  cultivating 
them  :  fo  that  a  man  with  a  moderate  capital,  may, 
in  the  courfe  of  fifteen  years,  become  an  opulent  and 

»  r 

independent  freeholder.  . 

If,  notwithftandirig  what  has  been  faid  of  the’ 
difficulties  of  effecting  an  eftablifhment  in  the  woods, 
die  low  price  of  the  new  lands  fiiould  tempt  the 
European  Farmer  to  fettle  in  them,  then  let  me  add, 
that  it  can  only  be  done  by  affociating  himfelt  in  a 
large  company,  under  the  dire&ion  of  an  a&ive 
and  intelligent  American  farmer.  To  fecure  even  a 


MIGRATING  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


l93 


company  of  European  fettlers  from  difappointment 
and  want  in  the  woods,  it  will  be  neceflary  to  clear 
a  few  acres  of  land  the  year  before,  and  to  fow  them 
with  grain,  in  order  to  provide  fubfiftance  for  the 
company,  till  they  can  provide  for  themfelves,  by 

.  %  9 

clearing  their  own  farms.  The  difficulties  of  eftablifh- 
ing  this  new  fettlement,  will  be  further  leflened,  if  a 

i  *  i  ■  » 

few  cabins,  a  grift  and  a  faw  mill  be  erected,  at  the 
fame  time  the  preparations  are  made  for  the  temporary 
fubfiftance  of  the  company.  In  this  manner,  moft  of 
the  firft  fettlements  of  the  New  England  men  have  been 

CD  . 

made  in  this’  country.  One  great  advantage,  attend¬ 
ing  this  mode  of  fettling,  is,  a  company  may  always 
carry  with  them  a  clergyman  and  a  fchoolmafter,  of 
the  fame  religion  and  language  with  themfelves.  If 
a  fettler  in  the  woods  fhould  poiTefs  a  tafte  for  rural 
elegance,  he  may  gratify  it  without  any  expenfe,  by 
the  manner  of  laying  out  his  farm.  He  may  (hade 
his  houfe  by  means  of  ancient  and  venerable  forrefU 
trees.  He  may  leave  rows  of  them  (landing,  to 
adorn  his  lanes  and  walks — or  clufters  of  them  on 
the  high  grounds  of  his  fields,  to  ffiade  his  cattle , 

If  he  fhould  fix  upon  any  of  thofe  parts  of  our  weft- 

/ 

ern  country,  which  are  covered  with  the  fugar-trees, 
he  may  inclofe  a  fufficient  number  of  them  to  fupply 
his  family  with  fugar ;  and  may  confer  upon  them 
at  the  fame  time  the  order  and  beauty  of  a  fine  or¬ 
chard.  In  this  manner,  a  highly  improved  feat  may 


INFORMATION  TO  EUROPEANS 


be  cut  out  of  the  woods  in  a  few  years,  which  will  fur- 
pafs  both  in  elegance  and  value  a  farm  in  an  old 

• »  *  •  -  »  *  j  *  *  .  .  i  •  l  j  * 

fettlement,  which  has  been  for  twenty  years  the  fub- 

,,  -  ; ' 


jecl  of  improvements  in  tafle  and  agriculture.  To 
contemplate  a  dwelling-houfe — a  barn — {tables — fields 

^  -  y  i  . 

— meadows — an  orchard — a  garden,  &c.  which  have 


*  • 1  •  *  *  -jt 

been  produced  from  original  creation  by  the  labour  of 
a  fingle  life,  is,  I  am  told,  to  the  proprietor  of  them, 

r  «  •  U  Ci  «  «  .  v  .»  *  jl  lit  v1  •* 

one  of  the  higheft  pleafures  the  mind  of  man  is  capa- 
ble  of  enjoying.  But  how  much  muff  this  pleafure  be  „ 

•  *  -  V  <  ».  •  m-l  l  J  »  ,,  •  y 

increafed,  when  the  regularity  of  art  is  blended  in  the 
■*  •  ,  _ 
profpeft,  with  the  wildnefs  and  antiquity  of  nature  ? 

v  *.  ’  '  i  •  *  .... 


It  has  been  remarked  in  this  country,  that  clearing 
the  land  of  its  woods,  fometimes  makes  a  new  fettle- 
tfient  unhealthy,  by  expofing  its  damp  grounds  to  the 
a&ion  of  the  fun.  To  obviate  this  evil,  it  will  be 
neceffary  for  the  fettler  either  to  drain  and  cultivate  his 
tew  grounds,  as  foOri  as  they  arc  cleared,  or  to  leave 
i  body  of  trees  between  his  dwelling  houfe,  and  the 
fpets  from  whence  the  morbid  effluvia  are  derived. 
The  daft  of  thele  methods  has,  in  no  inftar.ee  that  I 


have  heard  of,  failed  of  preferving  whole  families 
from  fuch  difeafes  as  arife  from  damp  or  putrid  exha¬ 


lations. 


To  country  gentlemen,  who  have  been  accuftom- 

f* 

ed  to  live  upon  the  income  of  a  landed  eftate  in  iiurope, 

,  9  ■  . 

it  will  be  neccfiary  to  communicate  the  following  in¬ 
formation,  via.  that  farms,  in  confequence  of  the 


MIGRATING  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES.  1 95 

unproductive  woodland,  which  is  generally  connected 
with  them,  feldom  yield  more  than  three  or  four 
per  cent,  a  year  in  cafh,  except  in  the  neighbour¬ 
hood  of  large  cities.  Befides,  from  the  facility  with 
which  money  enough  may  be  laved  in  a  few  years, 
to  purchafe  land  in  this  country,  tenants  will 
not  accept  of  long  leafes  :  and  hence  they  are  not 
fufficiently  interefted  in  the  farms  they  rent,  to  keep 

them  in  repair.  If  country  gentlemen  wifh  to  derive 

% 

the  greateft  advantage  from  laying  out  fheir  money 

/  i  T  ..  *. 

in  lands,  they  mult  refide  in  their  vicinity.  A  capital 
of  five  thoufand  guineas,  inverted  in  a  number  of 
contiguous  farms,  in  an  improved  part  of  our  country, 
and  cultivated  by  tenants  under  the  eye  and  direction 
of  a  landlord,  would  foon  yield  a  greater  income 

than  double  that  fum  would  in  mod  parts  of  Europe. 

% 

The  landlord  in  this  cafe  mud  frequently  vi fit  and 
infpedt  the  ftate  of  each  of  his  farms  :  and  now  and 
then  he  mu  ft  flop  to  repair  a  bridge  or  a  fence  in 
his  excurfions  through  them.  He  mud  receive  all 
his  rents  in  the  produce  of  the  farms.  If  the  tenant 
find  his  own  ftock,  he  will  pay  half  of  all  the  grain 
he  raifes,  and  fometimes  a  certain  proportion  of  ve¬ 
getables  and  live  ftock,  to  his  landlord.  The  divifion 
of  the  grain  is  generally  made  in  the  field,  in  {heaves 
or  ftacks,  which  are  carried  home  to  be  thrafhed  in 
the  barn  ci  the  landlord.  An  eftated  gentleman, 
who  can  reconcile  himfelf  to  this  kind  of  life,  may 
be  both  happy  and  ufeful.  He  may  inftrud  his 


I96  INFORMATION  TO  EUROPEANS 

tenants  by  liis  example,  as  well  as  precepts  in  the 
new  modes  of  hufbandry  :  he  may  teach  them  the  art 
and  advantages  of  gardening  :  he  may  infpire  them 
with  habits  of  fobriety,  induftry,  and  oeconomy  ;  and 
thereby  become  the  father  and  protestor  of  a  depen¬ 
dant  and  affectionate  neighbourhood.  After  a  bufy 
fummer  and  autumn,  he  may  pafs  his  winters  in  polifh- 
ed  fociety  in  any  of  our  cities,  and  in  many  of  our 
country  villages. 

But  {hould  he  be  difinclined  to  fuch  extenfive 
fcenes  of  bufinefs,  he  may  confine  his  purchafes  and 
labours  to  a  fmgle  farm,  and  fecure  his  fuperfluous 
cafh  in  bonds  and  mortgages,  which  will  yield  him 
fix  per  cent. 

Under  this  head,  it  is  proper  to  mention,  that  the 
agricultural  life  begins  to  maintain  in  the  United 
States,  the  fame  rank  that  it  has  long  maintained  in 
Great  Britain.  Many  gentlemen  of  education  among 
tis  have  quitted  liberal  profefiions,  and  have  proved, 
by  their  fuccefs  in  farming,  that  philofophy  is  in  no 
bufinefs  more  ufeful  or  profitable,  than  in  agriculture. 

II.  Mechanics  and  manufacturers,  of  every  def- 
cription,  will  find  certain  encouragement  in  the  Uni¬ 
ted  States.  During  the  connexion  of  this  country 
with  Great  Britain,  we  were  taught  to  believe  that 
•agriculture  and  commerce  {hould  be  the  only  purfuits 
of  the  Americans :  but  experiments  and  reflexion 
have  taught  us,  that  our  country  abounds  with  re- 


MIGRATING  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES.  I(j7 

fources  for  manufactures  of  all  kinds  :  and  that  moft 
of  them  may  be  conducted  with  great  advantage  in  all 
the  dates.  We  are  already  nearly  independent  of  the 
whole  world  for  iron-work,  paper,  and  malt  liquors  : 
and  great  progrefs  has  been  made  in  the  manufac¬ 
tures  of  glafs,  pot-afh,  and  cloths  of  all  kinds. 
The  commercial  habits  of  our  citizens  have  as  yet 
prevented  their  employing  large  capitals  in  tliofe 
manufactures  :  but  I  am  perfuaded  that  if  a  few  Euro¬ 
pean  adventurers  would  embark  in  them  with  capitals 
equal  to  the  demand  for  thofe  manufactures,  they  would 
foon  find  an  immenfe  profit  in  their  fpeculations.  A 
fingle  farmer  in  the  (late  of  New  York,  with  a  capital 
of  five  theufand  pounds,  has  cleared  one  thoufand  a 
year  by  the  manufacture  of  pot-afh  alone. 

Thofe  mechanical  arts,  which  are  accomodated  to 
the  infant  and  fimple  (late  of  a  country,  will  bid  faireft 
to  fucceed  among  us.  Every  art,  connected  with  cul¬ 
tivating  the  earth — building  houfes  and  (hips,  and  feed¬ 
ing  and  clothing  the  body,  will  meet  with  encourage¬ 
ment  in  this  country.  The  prices  of  provifions  are 
fo  different  in  the  different  ftates,  and  even  in  the 
different  parts  of  the  fame  flate,  and  vary  fo  much 
with  the  plenty  and  fcarcity  of  money,  that  it  would 
be  difficult  to  give  you  fuch  an  account  of  them  as 
would  be  ufeful.  I  need  only  remark,  that  the  difpro- 
portion  between  the  price  of  labour  and  of  provifions, 
is  much  greater  in  every  part  of  the  United  States, 
than  in  any  part  of  Europe  :  and  hence  our  tradefmen 


J$3  INFORMATION  TO  EUROPEANS 

every  where  eat  meat  and  butter  every  day :  and  moft 

'  \  ' 

of  them  realize  the  wifh  of  Henry  IV.  of  France,  for 
the  peaunts  of  his  kingdom,  by  dining  not  only  once, 
but  two  or  three  times,  upon  poultry,  in  every  week 
of  the  year. 

V  s. 

It  is  a  fmgular  fa£t  in  the  hiftory  of  the  mechanical 
arts  in  this  country  that  the  fame  arts  feldom  defcend 
from  father  to  fon.  Such  are  the  profits  of  even  the 
humblefi:  of  them,  that  the  fons  of  mechanics  generally 
rife  from  the  lower  to  the  more  refpedlable  occupa¬ 
tions:  and  thus  their  families  gradually  afcend  to  the  firft 
ranks  in  fociety  among  us.  The  influence,  which  the 
profpecls  of  wealth  and  confequence  have  in  invigo¬ 
rating  induftry  in  every  line  of  mechanical  bufinefs,  is 
very  great.  Many  of  the  firft  men  in  America,  are  the 
fons  cf  reputable  mechanics  or  farmers.  But  I  may  go 
farther,  and  add,  that  many  men,  who  diftinguifhed 
themfelves  both  in  the  cabinet  and  field,  in  the  late 

war,  had  been  mechanics.  I  know  the  Britifh  officers 

*  » 

treated  the  American  caufe  with  contempt,  from  this 
circumftance  :  but  the  event  of  the  war  {hewed,  that  the 
confidence  of  America  was  not  mifplaced  in  that  body 
of  citizens. 

t 

m.  1  labourers  may  depend  upon  conftant  em¬ 
ployment  in  the  United  States,  both  in  our  towns  and 
in  the  country.  When  they  work  by  the  day,  they 
receive  high  wages  :  but  thefe  are  feldom  continued 


MIGRATING  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES.  1 99 

t  *  *  9 

through  the  whole  year.  A  labourer  receives  annually, 
with  his  boarding,  wafhing,  and  lodging,  from  fif¬ 
teen  to  eighteen  guineas,  in  the  middle  dates.  It 
is  agreeable  to  obferve  this  clafs  of  men  frequently 
raifcd  by  their  indudry  from  their  humble  dations, 
into  the  upper  ranks  of  life,  in  the  courfe  of  twenty  or 
years. 

i  •  <  0 

IV.  Persons  who  are  willing  to  indent  themfelves 
as  fervants  for  a  few  years,  will  find  that  humble 
dation  no  obdacle  to  a  future  edablifiiment  in  our 
country.  Many  men,  who  came  to  America  in  that 
capacity,  are  now  in  affluent  circumdances.  Their 
former  fituation,  where  they  have  behaved  well,  does 
not  preclude  them  from  forming  refpedtable  connec¬ 
tions  in  marriage,  nor  from  fharing,  if  other  wife 
qualified,  in  the  offices  of  our  country. 

V.  The  United  States  continue  to  afford  encourage¬ 
ment  to  gentlemen  of  the  learned  profeJJtotisy  provided 

“7  W  ■'  *>  “«*■  •# 

they  be  prudent  in  their  deportment,  and  of  fufficient 

» 

knowledge  :  for  fince  the  edablifhment  of  colleges  and 
fchools  of  learning  in  all  our  dates,  the  fame  degrees 
of  learning  will  not  fuccced  among  us,  which  fucceeded 
fifty  years  ago. 

Several  lawyers  and  phyfidans,  who  have  arrived 
here  fince  the  peace,  are  now  in  good  bufinefs :  and 
many  clergymen,  natives  of  England,  Scotland,  and 
Ireland,  are  comfortably  fettled  in  good  parifhes.  A 


200 


INFORMATION  TO  EUROPEANS 


minifter  of  the  gofpel  in  a  country  place  muft  not  ex¬ 
pect  to  have  all  his  falary  paid,  in  cafh  :  but  he  will 
notwithltanding  feldom  fail  of  obtaining  a  good  fubfif- 
tance  from  his  congregation.  They  will  furnifli  his 
table  with  a  portion  of  all  the  live  flock  they  raife  for 
their  own  ufe  :  they  will  fhoe  his  hcrfes — repair  his 
implements  of  hufbandry,  and  affift  him  in  gathering 
in  his  harvefts,  and  in  many  other  parts  of  the  bufinefs 
of  his  farm.  From  thefe  aids,  with  now  and  then  a 
little  cafh,  a  clergyman  may  not  only  live  well,  but, 
in  the  courfe  of  his  life,  may  accumulate  an  handfome 
eitate  for  his  children.  This  will  more  certainly 
happen,  if  he  can  redeem  time  enough  from  his  paro¬ 
chial  duties  and  the  care  of  his  farm,  to  teach  a  fehooi. 
The  people  of  America  are  of  all  fe£ls  :  but  the  greateft 
part  of  them  are  of  the  independent,  prefbyterian,  epif- 
copal,  baptift,  and  methodift  denominations.  The 
principles  held  by  each  of  thefe  focieties  in  America 
are  the  fame  as  thofe  which  are  held  by  the  proteftant 
churches  in  Europe,  from  which  they  derive  their 
origin. 

t> 

VI.  Schoolmasters  of  good  capacities  and  fair 
characters  may  exep£t  to  meet  with  encouragement 
in  the  middle  and  fouthern  ftates.  They  will  fucceed 
better,  if  they  confine  their  inflructions  to  reading, 
writing,  Englifh  grammar,  and  the  fciences  of  number 

.1 

and  ouantitv.  Thefe  branches  of  literature  are  of 

X  J 

general  neceffity  and  utility  :  and  of  courfe  every 


MIGRATING  TO  the  united  states. 


201 


townfhip  will  furnifli  fcholars  enough  for  the  main- 
tenance  of  a  fchoolmafter.  Many  young  men  have 
rifen  by  means  of  the  connexions  they  have  formed 
in  this  ufeful  employment,  to  rank  and  confequence 
in  the  learned  profeiSons  in  every  part  of  this  country. 

From  this  account  of  the  United  States,  you  will 
cafily  perceive,  that  they  are  a  hot-bed  for  induftry 
and  genius  in  almoft  every  human  purfuit.  It  is  in¬ 
conceivable  how  many  ufeful  difcoveries  neceffity  has 
produced  within  thefe  few  years,  in  agriculture  and 
man u fa £1  tires,  in  our  country.  The  fame  neceffity  has 
produced  a  verfatility  of  genius  among  our  citizens  : 
hence  we  frequently  meet  with  men  who  have  exercif- 
ed  two  or  three  different  occupations  or  profefiions  in 

»  .V 

the  courfe  of  their  lives,  according  to  the  influence 

/ 

which  intereft,  accident,  or  local  circumftances  have 
had  upon  them.  I  know  that  the  peculiarities,  which 
have  been  mentioned  in  the  American  character,  (trike 
an  European,  who  has  been  aceuftomed  to  consider 
man  as  a  creature  of  habit,  formed  by  long  eftablifhed 
governments,  and  hereditary  ciiftoms,  as  fo  many 
deviations  from  propriety  and  order.  But  a  wife  man, 
who  knows  that  national  characters  arlfe  from  circum- 
ftances,  will  view  thefe  peculiarities  without  furprife, 
and  attribute  them  wholly  to  the  prefent  (late  of  man¬ 
ners,  fociety,  and  government  in  America. 

From  the  numerous  competitions  in  every  branch 
of  bufmefs  in  Europe,  fuccefs  in  any  purfuit,  may  be 


D  d 


I 


202  INFORMATION  TO  EUROPEANS 

looked  upon  in  the  fame  light  as  a  prize  in  a  lottery.. 
But  the  cafe  is  widely  different  in  America.  Here 
there  is  room  enough  for  every  human  talent  and 
virtue  to  expand  and  flourifh.  This  is  fo  invariably 
true,  that  I  believe  there  is  not  an  inftance  to  be  found, 
of  an  induftrious,  frugal  prudent  European,  with  fober 
manners,  who  has  not  been  fuccefsful  in  bufmefs,  in 
this  country. 

As  a  further  inducement  to  Europeans  to  tranfport 
themfelves  acrofs  the  Ocean,  lam  obliged  to  mention 
a  fa£t  that  c.oes  little  honour  to  the  native  American  ; 
and  that  is,  in  all  competitions  for  bufinefs,  where  fuc- 
cefs  depends  upon  induftry,  the  European  is  generally 
preferred.  Indeed,  fuch  is  the  facility  with  which  pro¬ 
perty  is  acquired,  that  where  it  does  not  operate  as 
a  flimulus  to  promote  ambition,  it  is  fometimes  accom¬ 
panied  by  a  relaxation  of  induftry  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  years  or  generations  which  interpofe  be¬ 
tween  the  founder  of  an  American  family  and  his  pof- 
terity.  This  preference  of  European  mechanics  arifes, 
likewife,  from  the  improvements  in  the  different  arts, 
which  are  from  time  to  time  imported  by  them  into 
our  country.  To  thefe  facts  I  am  happy  in  being  able 
to  add,  that  the  years  of  anarchy,  which  proved  fo 
dilgufting  to  the  Europeans  who  arrived  among  us 
immediately  after  the  peace,  are  now  at  an  end,  and 
that  the  United  States  have  at  laft  adopted  a  national 
government  which  unites  with  the  vigour  of  monarchy 
and  the  {lability  of  ariftocracy,  all  the  freedom  of/ 


migrating  to  the  united  states.  203 


a  fimple  republic.  Its  influence  already  in  invigorat¬ 
ing  induftry,  and  reviving  credit,  is  univerfal.  lhere 
are  feveral  peculiarities  in  this  government,  which  can¬ 
not  fail  of  being  agreeable  to  Europeans,  who  are 
difpofed  to  fettle  in  America. 

•  V  •  *  * 

1 .  The  equal  (hare  of  power  it  holds  forth  to  men 

■  r  •  '  r  ■  .  ,  .  ... 

of  every  religious  fe£t.  As  the  firft  fruits  of  this  per- 

.  i  •  *  *  — 

fection  in  our  government,  we  already  fee  three  gen- 
tlemen  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  members  of  the 
legiflature  of  the  United  States. 

O 

-  *  ,  V  r  »  »  *  «  »  's  f  i  f  -  ty? 

„  .  '  '  ,  .  .  J  A  J  JJ  !  '  •  *  -  ■  1  •  - 

2.  Birth  in  America  is  not  required  for  holding  either 
power  or  office  in  the  federal  government,  except  that 
of  Prefident  of  the  United  States.  In  confequence  of 
this  principle  of  jufticc,  not  only  in  the  national 
government,  but  in  all  our  ftate  conftitutions,  we  dai- 

•\  .#  ^  ■  i.  i  \ 

ly  fee  the  natives  of  Britain,  Ireland,  Germany,  ad¬ 
vanced  to  the  mod  refpedtable  employments  in  our 
country. 

3.  By  a  late  act  of  congrefs,  only  two  years  refidence 
in  the  United  States  are  necefiary  to  entitle  foreign¬ 
ers  of  good  character  to  all  the  priviliges  of  citizen- 
fnip.  Even  that  fhort  period  of  time  has  been  found 
fufficient  to  give  ftrangers  a  vifible  intereft  in  the 
liability  and  freedom  of  our  governments.  * 

It  is  agreeable  to  obferve  the  influence  which  our 
republican  governments  have  already  had  upon  the 

*  By  a  law  pafied  fince  the  above,  five  years  refidence  are  necefiiiry 
entitle  a  foreigner  to  citizenihip. 


204 


INFORMATION  TO  EUROPEANS 


«  • 

tempers  and  manners  of  our  citizens.  Amufefnent 
is  every  where  giving  way  to  bufinefs :  and  local 
politenefs  is  yielding  to  univerfal  civility.  We  differ 
about  forms  and  modes  in  politics  :  but  this  difference 
begins  to  fubmit  to  the  reidraints  of  moral  and  focial 
obligation.  Order  and  tranquility  appear  to  be  the 

natural  confequence  of  a  well-balanced  republic  :  for 

* . 

where  men  can  remove  the  evils  of  their  govern¬ 
ments  by  frequent  elections,  they  will  feldom  appeal 
to  the  lefs  certain  remedies  of  mobs  or  arms.  It  is 

with  Angular  pleafure  that  I  can  add  further,  that 

•  —  «  •  ►  • 

notwithftanding  the  virulence  of  our  diffenfions  about 
independence  and  the  federal  government,  there  is 
now  fcarcely  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  who  is 
not  fatisfied  with  both,  and  who  does  not  believe  this 
country  to  be  in  a  happier  and  fafer  fituation,  than 
it  was,  in  the  mod  flourifhing  years  of  its  dependence 
upon  Great  Britain. 

The  encouragment  held  out  to  European  emigrants 
•  . 

is  not  the  fame  in  all  the  dates.  New  England,  New 
York,  and  New  Jerfey,  being  nearly  filled  with  culti¬ 
vators  of  the  earth,  afford  encouragement  chiefly  to 
mechanicks  and  labourers.  The  inhabitants  of  New 

i 

England  have  far  furpaffed  the  inhabitants  of  the  other 
dates,  in  the  efiiablifliment  of  numerous  and  profitable 
manufactories.  Thefe  wonderful  people  difeover  the 
fame  degrees  of  indudry  in  cultivating  the  arts  of 
peace,  that  they  did  of  enterprize  and  perfeverancc, 
in  the  late  war.  They  already  export  large  quantities 


MIGRATING  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


of  wrought  iron,  hats,  women’s  fhoes,  cheefe,  and 

linen  and  woolen  cloth.  The  date  of  New-York 

$ 

lias  likewife  difcovered  a  laudable  fpirit  for  manu¬ 
facturers  and  domedic  improvements.  European 
artids,  therefore,  -cannot  fail  of  meeting  with  encou¬ 
ragement  in  each  of  the  above  dates. 

Pennfylvania  affords  an  equal  afylum  to  all  the  de- 
feriptions  of  people  -that  have  been  mentioned,  under  the 
fecond  head  of  this  letter.  Agriculture,  manufac¬ 
tures,  and  many  of  the  liberal  arts  feem  to  vie  with 
each  other  for  pre-eminence  in  this  date.  Each  of 
them  is  under  the  patronage  of  numerous  andrefpeCtable 
focieties.  No  date  in  the  union  affords  greater  re- 
fources  for  {hip  building,  malt  liquors,  maple  fugar, 
fail  cloth,  iron  work,  woolen  and  linen  cloths,  pot- 
afn,  and  glafs.  Coal,  likewife,  abounds  on  the  fhores  of 
the  Sufquehanna,  a  large  river  which  runs  through  half 
the  date.  The  varietv  of  feCts  and  nations,  which  com- 
pole  the  inhabitants  of  this  date,  has  hitherto  prevented 
our  having  any  deady  traits  in  our  character.  We 
poffefs  the  virtues  and  weakneffes  of  mod  of  the 
feCts  and  nations  of  Europe.  But  this  variety  has 
produced  fuch  a  collifion  in  opinions  and  intereds,  as 
has  greatiy  favoured  the  progrefs  of  genius  in  every 
art  and  fcience.  We  have  been  accufed  of  being 
faCtious  by  our  fider  dates.  This  mud  be  aferibed  chief¬ 
ly  to  our  late  date  conditution,  which  was  edablifhed 
by  violence  in  the  beginning  of  the  late  war,  and  which 
was  never  affented  to  by  a  majority  of  the  people. 


2GS 


INFORMATION  to  EUROPEANS 


But  that  majority  have  at  length  afferted  their  power* 
A  convention,  compofed  of  an  equal  representation  of 
the  people,  has  met  and  formed  a  new  conftitution, 
which  comprehends  in  it  every  principle  of  liberty  and 
juft  government.  From  the  excellency  of  this  conftitu- 
tion — from  the  harmony  it  has  reftored  to  our  citizens 
— from  the  central  fituation  of  our  ftate — from  the 
number  and  courfes  of  our  rivers — from  the  facility 
with  which  we  are  able  to  draw  the  rcfources  of  the 
lakes  to  the  Delaware — from  the  wealth  of  our 
capital — and  above  all,  from  the  induftry  and  fober 
habits  of  our  citizens — there  can  be  no  doubt  that 
Pennfylvania  will  always  maintain  the  firft  rank,  for 
national  profperity  and  happinefs,  in  the  United 
States. 

There  is  one  circumftance,  peculiar  in  a  great  de¬ 
gree  to  Penfvivania,  which  cannot  fail  of  diredting 
the  eyes  of  the  inhabitants  of  feveral  of  the  European 
nations  to  this  ftate — and  that  is,  the  natives  of 
Britain,  Ireland,  Germany,  France,  Switzerland, 
and  Holland,  may  here  meet  with  their  former  fellow 
fubjecls,  and  receive  from  them  that  welcome  and 
aiiiftorice,  which  are  the  natural  confequences  of  the 
tie  of  country.  So  ftrongly  does  this  principle 
oncrate  in  America,  that  the  natives  of  Germany 
and  Ireland  have  formed  themfelves  into  focieties 
in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  for  the  exprefs  purpofe 
cf  protecting,  advifing,  and  aflifting  their  country- 


MIGRATING  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


207 


men,  as  foon  as  they  fet  their  feet  upon  the  fliores 
of  Pennfylvania. 

It  has  been  faid,  that  the  lands  in  Pennfylvania  are 
dearer  than  in  fome  of  our  filter  ftates.  They  fell,  it 
is  true,  for  a  greater  nominal  fum,  than  the  lands  of 
the  neighbouring  ftates  :  but  in  the  end,  they  are 
much  cheaper.  The  foil  is  deep,  rich,  and  durable, 
and  from  the  fuperior  induftry  and  (kill  of  our 
farmers,  our  lands  are  more  procludtive  than  thofe  or 
our  neighbours  *,  hence  their  higher  price ;  for  the 
price  of  lands  is  always  in  a  ratio  to  their  quality, 
produce  and  fituation :  hence  likewife,  we  are  able 
to  tell  the  value  of  a  farm  in  any  part  of  the  ftate, 
by  firft  finding  out  the  quantity  of  grain  an  acre 

will  produce,  and  the  price  of  this  grain  at  the 

• 

neareft  mill  or  ftore,  making  fome  little  allowance 
for  the  improvements  which  are  connected  with  the 
farm.  This  remark  is  fo  univerfally  true,  that  a 
farmer  never  miftakes  the  application  of  it  in  pur- 
chafing  land.  There  is  a  certain  inftinct,  which  governs 
in  all  purchafcs  and  fales  of  farms,  and  which  arifes  out 
of  the  principle  I  have  mentioned  :  it  is  in  general  as 

accurate,  as  if  it  arofe  out  of  the  niceft  calculation.  It 

*  f  ■■  t  ,  .  > 

is  from  an  ignorance  or  neglect  of  this  principle,  that  fo 
many  of  our  citizens  have  migrated  to  Kentucky,  under 
a  delufive  expectation  of  purchafing  lands  cheaper  than 
in  the  old  ftates.  They  are  in  fact  often  much  dearer 
when  you  eftimate  their  price  by  the  profit  of  the  grain 
which  is  cultivated  upon  them.  For  inftancc,  an  acre 


I 


1 


aoS 


INFORMATION  TO  EUROPEANS 


of  land  in  Kentucky,  which  fells  for  a  quarter  of  a 
guinea,  and  yields  30  bufhels  of  corn,  at  four  pence 
derling  per  bufhel,  is  dearer  than  land  of  the  fame 
quality  in  Pennfylvania,  at  a  guinea  per  acre,  that 
yields  the  fame  quantity  of  corn,  which  can  be  fold 
at  the  neareft  mill  or  (lore  for  two  (hillings  derl.  per 
bufhel.  To  cure*  this  padion  for  migrating  to  the 
waters  of  the  Ohio,  there  is  but  one  remedy,  and  that  is, 
to  open  the  navigation  of  the  Miffiffippi.  This,  by 
raifing  the  price  of  produce,  will  raife  the  value  of 
land  fo  high,  as  to  deitroy  the  balance  of  attraction 
to  that  country.  This  truth  is  at  prefent  a  fpecula- 
lative  one,  but  I  hope  it  will  be  reduced  to  pra&ice 
before  the  waters  of  the  Ohio  and  MiHiilippi  have 
been  dyed  with  the  blood  of  two  or  three  hundred 
thoufand  men. 


The  dates  to  the  fouthward  of  Pennfylvania  pofiefs 

immenfe  refources  for  political  happinefs  :  but  while 

* 

they  tolerate  negro  flavery,  they  can  never  be  an 
agreeable  retreat  for  an  European.  This  objection 
apnlies  chiefly  to  the  fea  eoafls  or  thofe  dates  $ 
for  in  the  wedern  parts  of  them,  the  land  is  cultivated 
chiefly  by  freemen.  The  foil  and  climate  of  the 
extenfive  wedern  country  of  thofe  dates  is  kind  and 
mild  to-  a  very  great  degree.  There  Europeans  may 
profper  and  be  happy. 

Thus,  Sir,  have  I  complied  in  a  few  words  with 
your  requed.  In  communicating  many  of  the  fa£ts 
contain  ed  in  this  letter,  I  have  not  confidered  you 


MIGRATING  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES.  209 


{imply  as  a  citizen  of  London,  or  a  fubjeft  of  the 
Crown  of  Britain.  The  whole  family  of  mankind, 

'  I  know  are  your  brethren  ;  and  if  men  be  happy 
I  am  fure  it  is  a  matter  of  indifference  to  you, 
whether  they  enjoy  their  happinefs  on  this  fide,  or 
on  the  other  fide  of  the  Atlantic  ocean. 

From  a  review  of  the  facts  that  have  been  men¬ 
tioned,  you  will  perceive  that  the  prefent  is  the  age 
of  reafon  and  action  in  America.  To  our  poflerity 
we  mud  bequeath  the  cultivation  of  the  fine  arts 
and  the  pleafures  of  tafte  and  fentiment.  The 
foreigners  who  have  vifited  and  defcribed  our  country 
without  making  allowances  for  thofe  peculiarities  which 
arife  from  our  prefent  date  of  fociety,  have  done  as 
little  honour  to  their  underdandings,  as  they  have 
done  to  human  nature.  Nor  have  thofe  Europeans 
dlfcovered  more  wifdom,  who  have  blended  with 
the  American  character,  the  accidental  diforders, 
which  were  die  offspring  of  our  late  public  commo¬ 
tions.  They  refemhlcd  the  fwelling  of  the  fea,  which 
fucceeds  a  dorm.  At  prefent,  they  have  as  perfectly  ' 
fubfided  as  the  diforders  produced  by  the  civil  wars 
in  England,  in  the  lad  century. 

It  is  fomewhat  remarkable  that  in  every  age,  great 
inventions  and  great  revolutions  in  human  affairs  have 
taken  place  in  a  quick  fucceflion  to  each  other.  The 
many  curious  machines  for  leffcning  labour,  which 


210 


INFORMATION  TO  EUROPEANS 


have  lately  been  dlfcovered  in  Europe,  will  neccffarily 
throw  many  thoufand  artificers  out  of  employment* 
Perhaps  the  late  fuccefsful  application  of  the  powers 
of  fire  and  water  to  mechanical  purpofes  in  your 
country,  was  delayed  until  the  prefent  time,  only 
that  the  fandluary  of  our  national  government  might 
be  perfectly  prepared  to  receive  and  protedl  thofe 
Induftrious  bodies  of  people,  who  formerly  lived  by 
the  labour  of  their  hands,  and  who  might  otherwife 
become  a  burden  to  the  countries  in  which  they  had 
been  deprived  of  the  means  of  fupporting  themfelves. 
Perhaps,  too,  the  revolutions,  which  are  now  going 
forward  in  leveral  of  the  governments  on  the  conti¬ 
nent  of  Europe,  have  occurred  at  the  prefent  j unsure 
for  a  purpofe  equally  wife  and  benevolent.  The 
firfi:  effedl  of  the  ellablifhment  of  freedom  in  thofe 
countries,  will  be  to  promote  population,  by  reducing 
taxes,  difbanding  (landing  armies,  and  abolishing  the 
vows  and  pradlices  of  celibacy  :  for  I  take  it  for 
granted  that  military  inftitutions  in  the  time  of  peace, 
and  monafteries  of  all  kinds,  mull  yield  to  the  pre¬ 
fent  force  and  cultivated  (late  of  human  reafon,  in 
thofe  countries,  which  are  now  the  theatres  of  revolu¬ 
tions  in  favour  of  liberty.  This  increafe  of  population 
will  require  an  increafe  of  territory,  which  mult  be 
fought  for  in  the  United  States  :  for  it  is  not  probable 
that  men  who  have  once  tailed  of  the  fweets  of  liberty y 
will  ever  think  of  tranfporting  themfelves  to  any  other 
country.  This  outlet  for  fupernumerary  inhabitants 


MIGRATING  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


2lf 


from  the  nations  of  Europe,  will  eventually  promote 
their  interefts  and  profperity  :  for  when  a  country  is 
fo  much  crouded  with  people,  that  the  price  of  the 
means  of  fubfiftence  is  beyond  the  ratio  of  their 
induftry,  marriages  are  reftrained :  but  when  emi¬ 
gration  to  a  certain  degree  takes  place,  the  balance 
between  the  means  of  fubfiftence  and  iriduftry  is 
reftored,  and  population  thereby  revived.  Of  the 
truth  of  this  principle  there  are  many  proofs  in  the 
old  counties  of  all  the  American  ftates.  Population  has 
conftantly  been  advanced  in  them  by  the  migration  of 
their  inhabitants  to  new  or  diftant  fettlements. 

In  fpite  of  all  the  little  fyftems  of  narrow  politicians, 
it  is  an  eternal  truth,  that  univerfal  happinefs  is  uni- 
verfal  intereft.  The  divine  government  of  our  world 
would  admit  of  a  controverfy,  if  men,  by  acquiring 
moral  or  political  happinefs,  in  one  part,  added  to  the 
mifery  of  the  inhabitants  of  another  part,  of  our  globe. 

I  (hall  conclude  this  long  letter  by  the  two  fol¬ 
lowing  remarks : 

I.  If  freedom,  joined  with  the  facility  of  acquiring 
the  means  of  fubfiftence,  have  fuch  an  influence  upon 
population — and  if  exiftence  be  a  title  to  happinefs — 
then  think,  fir,  what  an  ocean  of  additional  happinefs 
will  be  created,  by  the  influence  which  migration  to 
the  free  and  extenfive  territories  of  the  United  States 
will  have,  upon  the  numbers  of  mankind. 


212  INFORMATION  TO  EUROPEANS,  &C 

II.  If  wars  have  been  promoted  in  all  ages  and 

countries*  by  an  Over  proportion  of  inhabitants  to 

* 

the  means  of  eafy  fubfiffcence,  then  think,  fir,  what 
an  influence  upon  the  means  of  fupp®rting  human 
life,  migration  to  America,  and  the  immenfe  increafe 
of  the  productions  of  the  earth,  by  the  late  improve¬ 
ments  in  agriculture,  will  probably  have,  in  leiTening 
the  temptations  and  refources  of  nations  to  carry 
on  war.  The  promifes  of  heaven  are  often  accom- 
pliflied  by  means  in  which  there  is  no  departure 
from  the  common operations  of  nature.  If  the 
events,  which  have  been  alluded  to,  fhould  con¬ 
tribute  in  any  degree  to  put  an  end  to  wars,  it 
will  furnifh  a  noble  triumph  to  your  fociety  f  >  by 
(lie wing  how’  much  enlightened  policy?  and  national 
happinefs,  are  connected  with  the,  diftates  of  chrif- 
tianity. 

I  am, 

Dear  fir, 

With  great  refpedf, 

And  fmcere  regard, 

Y ours  very  affectionately, 

. ■  *  ■  ■■■—  --r.~ 

Philadelphia ,  April  1 6 .  1 7 9 0 * 

f  The  gentleman  to  whom  this  letter  is  addrefled,  i*  of  the  fociety 
of  the  people  called  quakers. 


I 


An  account  of  the  progress  of  population. 


agriculture,  manners,  and  government  in 


Penns ylvan i a,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend  in 
England. 


Dear  Sir, 

rHATEVER  tends  to  unfold  faEls  in  the 


liiftory  of  the  human  fpecies,  muft  be 


interefting  to  a  curious  enquirer. — The  manner  ot 
fettling  a  new  country,  exhibits  a  view  of  the  human 
mind  fo  foreign  to  the  views  of  it  which  have  been 
taken  for  many  centuries  in  Europe,  that  I  flatter 


rnyfelf  the  following  account  of  the  progrefs  of  po¬ 


pulation,  agriculture,  manners,  and  government  in 
Pennfylvania  will  be  acceptable  to  you.  I  have 
chofen  to  comine  rnyfelf  in  the  prefen t  letter  to 
Pennfylvania  only,  that  all  the  information  I  fliall 
give  you  may  be  derived  from  my  own  knowledge 
and  obfervations. 

N 

The firfi  fettler  in  the  woods  is  generally  a  man  who 
has  outlived  his  credit  or  fortune  in  the  cultivated 
parts  of  the  State.  Elis  time  for  migrating  is  in 
the  month  of  April.  His  firft  obje<T  is  to  build  a  fmall 
cabbin  of  rough  legs  for  himfelf  and  family.  The 
floor  of  this  cabbin  is  of  earth,  the  roof  is  of  fplit 
logs — the  light  is  received  through  the  door,  and,  in 


214 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  PROGRESS  OP 


fome  inftances,  through  a  fmall  window  made  of 
greafed  paper.  A  coarfer  building  adjoining  this 
cabbin  affords  a  fhelter  to  a  cow  and  a  pair  of 
poor  horfes.  The  labor  of  erecting  thefe  buildings 
is  fucceeded  by  killing  the  trees  on  a  few  acres  of 
ground  near  his  cabbin  ;  this  is  done  by  cutting  a 

circle  round  the  trees,  two  or  three  feet  from  the 

\ 

ground.  The  ground  around  thefe  trees  is  then 
ploughed  and  Indian-corn  planted  in  it.  The  feafon 
for  planting  this  grain  is  about  the  20th  of  May — 
It  grows  generally  on  new  ground  with  but  little 
cultivation,  and  yields  in  the  month  of  October  fol¬ 
lowing,  from  forty  to  fifty  bufhels  by  the  acre.  After 
the  firft  of  September  it  affords  a  good  deal  of  nou- 
rifhment  to  his  family,  in  its  green  or  unripe  ftate,  in 
the  form  of  what  is  called  roajling  ears .  His  family 
is  fed  during  the  fummer  by  a  fmall  quantity  of  grain 
which  he  carries  with  him,  and  by  fifh  and  game. 
His  cows  and  horfes  feed  upon  wild  grafs,  or  the 
fucculent  twigs  of  the  woods.  For  the  firft  year  he 
endures  a  great  deal  of  diftrefs  from  hunger — cold — 
and  a  variety  of  accidental  caufes,  but  he  feldom 
complains  or  finks  under  them.  As  he  lives  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Indians,  he  foon  acquires  a  ftrong 
tindture  of  their  manners.  His  exertions,  while  they 
continue,  are  violent;  but  they  are  fucceeded  by  long 
intervals  of  refc.  His  pleafures  confift  chiefly  in 
fifning  and  hunting.  He  loves  fpirituous  liquors* 
and  he  eats,  drinks  and  fleeps  in  dirt  and  rags  in 
his  little  cabbin.  In  his  intercourfe  with  the  world 


1 


POPULATION,  &C.  IN  PENNSYLVANIA.  215 

he  manifefts  all  the  arts  which  characterize  the 
Indians  of  our  country.  In  this  fituation  he  paffes 
two  or  three  years.  In  proportion  as  population 
increafes  around  him,  he  becomes  uneafy  and  diffatisfi- 
ed.  Formerly  his  cattle  ranged  at  large,  but  now 
his  neighbours  call  upon  him  to  confine  them  with¬ 
in  fences,  to  prevent  their  trefpaffing  upon  their 
fields  of  grain.  Formerly  he  fed  his  family  with 
wild  animals,  but  thefe,  which  fly  from  the  face  of 
man,  now  ceafe  to  afford  him  an  eafy  fubfiftence,  and 
he  is  compelled  to  raife  domeftic  animals  for  the 
fupport  of  his  family.  Above  all,  he  revolts  againft 
the  operation  of  laws.  He  cannot  bear  to  furrender 
up  a  Angle  natural  right  for  all  the  benefits  of  go¬ 
vernment, — and  therefore  he  abandons  his  little 
fettlement,  and  feeks  a  retreat  in  the  woods,  where 
he  a^ain  fubmits  to  all  the  toils  which  have  been 
mentioned.  There  are  inflances  of  many  men  who 
have  broken  ground  on  bare  creation,  not  lefs  than 
four  different  times  in  this  way,  in  different  and  more 
advanced  parts  of  the  State.  It  has  been  remarked, 
that  the  flight  of  this  clafs  of  people  is  always  in- 
creafed  by  the  preaching  of  the  gofpel.  This  will 
not  furprife  us  when  we  confider  how  oppofite  its 
precepts  are  to  their  licentious  manner  of  living.  If 
our  firft  fettler  was  the  owner  of  the  fpot  of  land 
which  he  began  to  cultivate,  he  fells  it  at  a  confidera- 
ble  profit  to  his  fucceffor  ;  but  if  (as  is  oftner  the 
cafe)  he  was  a  tenant  to  fome  jich  landholder, 


21(5 


AN  ACCOUNT  OE  THE  PROGRESS  OF 


lie  abandons  it  in  debt ;  however,  the  fmall  improve¬ 
ments  he  leaves  behind  him,  generally  make  it  an 
object  of  immediate  demand  to  a  Jccond  fpecies  of 
fettler. 


This  fpecies  of  fettler  is  generally  a  man  of  fome 
property, — he  pays  one  third  or  one  fourth  part  in 

cafh  for  his  plantation.,  which  confifts  of  three  or 

•  • 

* 

four  hundred  acres,  and  the  reft  in  gales  or  inftal- 
ments,  as  it  is  called  here ;  that  is,  a  certain  fum 
yearly,  without  intereft,  hill  the  whole  is  paid.  The 
firft  object  of  this  fettler  is  to  build  an  addition  to 
his  cabbin  ;  this  is  done  with  hewed  logs  :  and  as 
faw-mil!s  generally  follow  fettlements,  his  floors  are 
made  of  boards  ;  his  roof  is  made  of  what  are  call¬ 
ed  clapboards,  which  are  a  kind  of  coarfe  fhingles, 
fplit  out  of  fliort  oak  logs.  This  houfe  is  divided  by 
two  floors,  on  each  of  which  are  two  rooms  :  under 
the  whole  is  a  cellar  walled  with  (lone.  The  cabbin 
ferves  as  kitchen  to  this  houfe.  His  next  object  is  to 
clear  a  little  meadow  ground,  and  plant  an  orchard 
of  two  or  three  hundred  apple  trees.  His  ftable  is 
like  wife  enlarged ;  and,  in  the  courfe  of  a  year  or 
two,  he  builds  a  large  log  barn,  the  roof  cf  which  is 

,  t 

commonly  thatched  with  rye  draw  :  he  moreover 
encreafes  the  quantity  of  his  arable  land  *,  and,  inftead 
of  cultivating  Indian  corn  alone,  he  raifes  a  quantity  of 
wheat  and  rye :  the  latter  is  cultivated  chiefly  for 
the  purpofj  of  being  diftilled  into  whifkey.  This  fpe- 


I 


POPULATION,  &C.  IN  PENNSYLVANIA.  2l7 

cies  of  fettler  by  no  means  extradls  all  from  the  earth, 
which  it  is  capable  of  giving.  His  fields  yield  but  a 
fcanty  increafe,  owing  to  the  ground  not  being  fuffici- 
ently  ploughed.  The  hopes  ofthe  year  are  often  blafled 
by  his  cattle  breaking  through  his  half  made  fences,  and 

deftroying  his  grain.  His  horfes  perform  but  half  the 

* 

labor  that  might  be  expended  from  them,  if  they  were 
better  fed  ;  and  his  cattle  often  die  in  the  fpring  from 
the  want  of  provifion,  and  the  delay  of  grafs.  His 
houfe,  as  well  as  his  farm,  bear  many  marks  of  a  weak 
tone  of  mind.  His  windows  are  unglazed,  or,  if  they  have 
had  glafs  in  them,  the  ruins  of  it  a sc  fupplied  with  old  hats 
or  pillows.  This  fpecies  of  fettler  is  feldom  a  good  mem¬ 
ber  of  civil  or  religious  fociety  :  with  a  large  portion 
of  a  hereditary  mechanical  kind  of  religion,  he  neglects 
to  contribute  fufficiently  towards  building  a  church,  or 
maintaining  a  regular  adminiftration  of  the  ordinances 
of  the  gofpel :  he  is  equally  indifpofed  to  fupport  civil 
government :  with  high  ideas  of  liberty,  he  refufes  to 
bear  his  proportion  of  the  debt  contrafted  by  its  ef- 
tablifhment  in  our  country  :  he  delights  chiefly  in  com¬ 
pany —  fometimes  drinks  fpirituous  liquors  to  excefs — 
will  fpend  a  day  or  two  in  every  week,  in  attending 
political  meetings  ;  and,  thus,  he  contrails  debts  which, 
(if  he  cannot  difcharge  in  a  depreciated  paper  curren¬ 
cy)  compel  him  to  fell  his  plantation,  generally  in 
the  courfe  of  a  few  years,  to  the  third  and  lad  fpecies 
of  fettler. 


2lS  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  PROGRESS  0? 

This  fpecies  of  fettler  is  commonly  a  man  of  proper¬ 
ty  and  good  character — Tometimes  he  is  the  fen  of  a 

*  (i 

wealthy  farmer  in  one  of  the  interior  and  ancient 
counties  of  the  ftate.  His  firft  object  is  to  convert 
every  fpot  of  ground,  over  which  he  is  able  to  draw 
water,  into  meadow  :  where  this  cannot  be  done,  he 
feleds  the  mod  fertile  fpots  on  the  farm,  and  devotes 
it  by  manure  to  that  purpofe.  His  next  object  is  to 
build  a  barn,  which  he  prefers  of  ftone.  This  build- 
ing  is,  in  fome  inftanees,  ioo  feet  in  front,  and  40 
in  depth  :  it  is  made  very  compact,  fo  as  to  {hut  out 
the  cold  in  winter  ;  for  our  farmers  find  that  their 
liorfes  and  cattle,  when  kept  warm,  do  not  require 
near  as  much  food,  as  when  they  are  expofed  to  the 
cold.  He  ufes  ceconomy,  likewife,  in  the  confump- 
tion  of  his  wood.  Hence  he  keeps  himfelf  warm  in 
winter,  by  means  of  ftoves,  which  fave  an  immenfe 
deal  of  labour  to  himfelf  and  his  horfes,  in  cutting 
and  hawling  wood  in  cold  and  wet  weather.  His 
fences  are  every  where  repaired,  fo  as  to  fecure  his 
grain  from  his  own  and  his  neighbour’s  cattle.  But 
further,  he  increafes  the  number  of  the  articles  of  his 
cultivation,  and,  infiead  of  raifing  corn,  wheat  and 
rye  alone,  he  raifes  oats,  buckwheat,  (the  fagopyrum 
of  Linnaeus)  and  fpelts.  Near  his  houfe,  he  allots 
an  acre  or  twp  of  ground  for  a  garden,  in  which  ne 
raifes  a  large  quantity  ox  cabbage  and  potatoes..  His 
newly  cleared  fields,  afford  him  every  year  a  large 
increafe  of  turnips.  Over  the  fpring  which  fuppliei 


POPULATION,  &C.  IN  PENNSYLVANIA.  21} 

# 

him  with  water,  he  builds  a  milk-houfe  and  over  this, 
in  fome  inftances,  he  builds  a  fmoke  houfe  m,  he  like  wife 
adds  to  the  number,  and  improves  the  quality  of  his 
fruit  trees : — His  fons  work  by  his  fide  all  the  year 
and  his  wife  and  daughters  forfake  the  dairy  and  the 
fpinning  wheel,  to  (hare  with  him  in  the  toils  of  harvefl* 
The  laft  object  of  his  induflry  is  to  build  a  dwelling 
houfe.  This  bufmefs  is  fometimes  effected  in  the 
courfe  of  his  life,  but  is  oftener  bequeathed  to  his 
fon,  or  the  inheritor  of  his  plantation  :  and  hence  we 
have  a  common  faying  among  our  belt  farmers,  that 
“  a  fon  fhould  always  begin  where  his  father  left 
off that  is,  he  fhould  begin  his  improvements,  by 
building  a  commodious  dwelling-houfe,  fuited  to  the 
improvements  and  value  of  the  plantation.  This 

v 

dwelling-houfe  is  generally  built  of  ftone — it  is  large, 
convenient,  and  filled  with  ufeful  and  fubftantial 
furniture — It  fometimes-  adjoins  the  houfe  of  the 
fecond  fettler,  but  is  frequently  placed  at  a  little 
diftance  from  it.  The  horfes  and  cattle  of  this 
fpecies  of  fettler,  bear  marks  in  their  ftrength,  fat 
and  fruitfulnefs— of  their  being  plentifully  fed  and 
carefully  kept.  His  table  abounds  with  a  variety  of 
the  belt  provifions — his  very  kitchen  flows  with 
milk  and  honey — beer,  cyder,  and  home  made  wine 
are  the  ufual  drinks  of  his  family  :  the  greatefl  part 
of  the  cloathing  of  his  family  is  manufactured  by  his 
wife  and  daughters :  in  proportion  as  he  encreafes 
in  wealth,  he  values  the  protection  of  laws :  hence 


220 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  PROGRESS  OF 


he  punctually  pays  his  taxes  towards  the  fupport  of 
government.  Schools  and  churches  likewife,  as  the 
means  of  promoting  order  and  happinefs  in  fociety, 
derive  a  due  fupport  from  him  :  for  benevolence  and 
public  fpirit,  as  to  thefe  objects,  are  the  natural  off- 
fpring  of  affluence  and  independence.  Of  this  clafs  of 
fettlers  are  two-thirds  of  the  farmers  of  Pennfvlvania. 
Thefe  are  the  men  to  whom  Pennfylvania  owes  her  an¬ 
cient  fame  and  confequence.  If  they  poflefs  lefs  re¬ 
finement  than  their  fouthern  neighbours,  who  cultivate 
their  land  with  flaves,  they  poflefs  more  republican  vir¬ 
tue.  It  was  from  the  farms  cultivated  by  thefe  men, 
that  the  American  and  French  armies  were  chiefly  fed 
with  bread  during  the  late  revolution  ;  and  it  was  from 
the  produce  of  thefe  farms,  that  thofe  millions  of  dollars 
were  obtained  from  the  Havanna  after  the  year  1780, 
which  laid  the  foundation  of  the  bank  of  North  Ame¬ 
rica,  and  which  fed  and  cloathed  the  American  army, 

till  the  peace  of  Paris. - This  is  a  fhort  account  of 

the  happinefs  of  a  Pennfylvania  farmer — To  this  happi¬ 
nefs  our  (late  invites  men  of  every  religion  and  country. 

We  do  not  pretend  to  offer  emigrants  the  pleafures 
of  Arcadia — It  is  enough  if  affluence,  independence, 
and  happinefs  are  enfured  to  patience,  induflry,  and 
labour.  The  moderate  price  of  land,*  the  credit  which 

*  The  unoccupied  lands  are  fold  by  the  ft  ate  for  about  ftx  guineas 
inclufive  of  all  charges,  per  hundred  acres.  But  as  moft  of  the  lands 
that  are  fettled,  are  procured  from  perfons  who  had  pur  chafed  them  from 
the  flate,  they  are  fold  to  the  ftrft  lettler  for  a  much  higher  price.  The 


I 


POPULATION,  &C.  IN  PENNSYLVANIA.  221- 

arifes  from  prudence,  and  the  fafety  from  our  courts  of 
law,  of  every  fpecies  of  property,  render  the  biddings 
which  I  have  defcribed,  objects  within  the  reach  of 
every  man. 

i 

From  a  review  ef  the  three  different  fpecies  of  fet- 
tlers,  it  appears,  that  there  are  certain  regular  ftages 
which  mark  the  progrefs  from  the  favagc  to  civilized 
life.  The  firfl  fettler  is  nearly  related  to  an  Indian  in 
his  manners — In  the  fecond,  the  Indian  manners  are 

*  i  .  tv  i  **  t 

more  diluted  :  It  is  in  the  third  fpecies  of  fettlers 

■ 

only,  that  we  behold  civilization  completed — It  is 
to  the  third  fpecies  of  fettlers  only,  that  it  is  proper  to 
apply  the  term  of  farmers.  While  we  record  the  vices 
of  the  firfl  and  fecond  fettlers,  it  is  but  juft  to  men¬ 
tion  their  virtues  likewife. — Their  mutual  wants  pro¬ 
duce  mutual  dependance  :  hence  they  are  kind  and 

quality  of  the  foil — its  vicinity  to  mills,  court-houfes,  places  of  worfhip, 
and  navigable  water  :  the  diflance  of  land-carriage  to  the  fea-ports  of 
Philadelphia  or  Baltimore,  and  the  nature  of  the  roads,  all  influence  the 
price  of  land  to  the  firfl  fettler.  The  quantity  of  cleared  land,  and  the 
nature  of  the  improvements,  added  to  all  the  above  circumflar.ces,  in¬ 
fluence  the  price  of  farms  to  the  fecond  and  third  fettlers.  Hence  the 

i 

price  of  land  to  the  firfl  fettlers  is  from  a  quarter  of  a  guinea  to  two 
guineas  per  acre  ;  and  the  price  of  farms  is  from  one  guinea  to  ten 
guineas  per  acre,  to  the  fecond  and  third  fettlers,  according  as  the  land 
ia  varied  by  the  before-mentioned  circumflances.  When  the  firtl  lettler 
is  unable  to  purchafe,  he  often  takes  a  tradl  of  land  for  fcven  years  on  a 
leafe,  and  contradls  inflead  of  paying  a  rent  in  cafli,  to  clear  50  acres  of 
land,  to  build  a  log  cabbin,  and  a  barn,  and  to  plant  an  orchard  on  Jt. 
This  tradl,  after  the  expiration  of  this  leafe,  fells  or  rents  for  a  confidera- 
ble  profit. 


222 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  PROGRESS  OF 


friendly  to  each  other — their  folitary  fituation  makes 
vifitors  agreeable  to  them  ; — hence  they  are  hofpitable 

to  It  rangers- :  their  want  of  money,  (for  they  raife  but 

.  ' 

little  more  than  is  neceffary  to  fupport  their  families) 
has  made  it  neceffary  for  them  to  affociate  for  the  pur¬ 
poses  of  building  houfes,  cutting  their  grain,  and  the 
like  — This  they  do  in  turns  for  each  other,  without  any* 
other  pay  than  the  pleafures  which  ufually  attend  a 
country  frolic — Perhaps  what  I  have  called  virtues  are 

'  ■>  •  •  ,  '  »  #  ’  t  ,  .  ;  *  *  /  *  .  \  »*  v  iS 

rather  qualities ,  arifing  from  neceffity,  and  the  peculiar 

0-  -  • 

date  of  fociety  in  which  thefe  people  live. — Virtue* 
ftiould,  in  all  cafes,  be  the  offspring  of  principle. 


I  do  not  pretend  to  fay,  that  this  mode  of  fettling 
farms  in  Pennfylvania  is  univerfal — I  have  known 
fome  infbnces  where  the  firft  fettler  has  performed 
the  improvements  of  the  fecond,  and  yielded  to  the 
third.  I  have  known  a  few  inftances  likewife,  of  men 
of  enterprizing  fpirits,  who  have  fettled  m  the  wil- 
dernefs,  and  who,  in  the  courfe  of  a  fingle  life,  have 
advanced  through  all  the  intermediate  fbges  of  im¬ 
provement  that  I  have  mentioned  and  produced  all 
thofe  conveniences  which  have  been  afcribed  to  the 
third  fpecies  of  fettlers  *,  thereby  refemblmg,  in  their 
exploits,  not  only  the  pioneers  and  light-infantry, 
but  the  main  body  cf  an  army.  There  are  inftances 
likewife,  where  the  firft  fettle  men  t  has  been  improved 
by  the  fame  family,  in  hereditary  fucceflion,  Till  it 
has  reached  die  third  ftage  of  cultivation.  There 
are  many  fpacious  ftone  houfes  and  highly  cultivated 


Population,  &<\  in  Pennsylvania. 

•  4  /•  •  *  •  '  i 


223 


farms  in  the ,  neighbouring  counties  of  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  which  are  peflefled  by  the  grandfons  and 
great- grandfons  of  men  who  accompanied  William 

Penn  acrofs  the  ocean,  and  who  laid  the  foun- 

>  , 

dation  of  the  prefent  improvements  of  their  poftcrity, 
in  fuch  cabbins  as  have  been  defer ibed. 

•  ->  ■  •  •  9  I  .j  t  !  ,  .  J 


f  *  -  - . 

This  paffion  for  migration 
will  appear  ftrange  to  an 
turn  their  backs  upon  the 


which  I  have  deferibed, 

‘  “  f  r«  j  f 

European.  '  To  fee  men 

.*  -r  •  ’  •  1  ' . 

lioufes  in  which  they 


"V 

drew  their  fir  ft  breath — upon  the  church  in  which 

\  » 

they  were  dedicated  to  God — upon  the  graves  of  their 


anceftcrs — upon  the  friends  and  companions  of  their 
youth — and  upon  all  the  pleafures  of  cultivated 

S  f*r 

fociety,  and  expofmg  themfelves  to  all  the  hard- 

» 

(hips  and  accidents  of  fubduing  the  earth,  and  thereby 
e  ft  abli  filing  fettlemeuts  in  a  wilderncfs,  rnuft  ftrike  a 


philosopher  on  your  fide  the  water,  as  a  picture  of 
human  nature  that  runs  counter  to  the  ufual  habits 

A 

and  principles  of  action  in  man.  But  this  paffion, 
(trange  and  new  as  it  appears,  is  wifely  calculated 
for  the  extention  of  population  in  America  :  and 
this  it  does,  not  only  by  promoting  the  increafe  of 
the  human  fpecies  in  new  fettlemcnts,  but  in  the 
old  fettlemcnts  like  wife.  While  the  degrees  of  in- 
duftry  and  knowledge  in  agriculture,  in  our  country, 
are  proportioned  to  farms  of  from  75  to  300  acres, 
there  will  be  a  languor  in  population,  as  foon  as 
farmers  multiply  beyond  the  number  cf  farms  of  the 


224  AN  account  of  the  progress  of 

»  ^  •  •  m  .  . 

above  dimenfidns.  To  remove  this  languor,  which 
is  kept  up  alike  by  the  increafe  of  the  price,  and  the 
divilion  of  farms,  a  migration  of  part  of  the  com¬ 
munity  becomes  absolutely  neceffary.  And  as  this 

•  v*v  *  m  » 

part  cf  the  community  often  confifts  of  the  idle  and 

• «  »  • 

extravagant,  who  eat  without  working,  their  removal, 
by  increasing  the  facility  of  fubfiftence  to  the  frugal 
and  induftrious  who  remain  behind,  naturally  increafes 
the  number  cf  people,  jufl  as  the  cutting  off  the 
fuckers  ot  an  apple-tree  increafes  the  fize  of  the  tree, 
and  the  quantity  of  fruit. 

O 

•  I  —  ;  « 

I  have  only  to  add  upon  this  fubjedl,  that  the 
migrants  from  Pennfylvania  always  travel  to  the  South¬ 
ward.  The  foil  and  climate  of  the  weftern  parts  of 

»  .  • 

Virginia,  North  and  South-Carolina,  and  Georgia, 
afford  a  more  eafy  fupport  to  lazy  farmers,  than  the 
Stubborn  but  durable  foil  of  Pennfylvania. — Here ,  our 
ground  requires  deep  and  repeated  plowing  to  render 
it  fruitful — there,  Scratching  the  ground  once  or  twice 
affords  tolerable  crops.  In  Pennfylvania,  the  length 
and  coklnefs  of  the  winter  make  it  neccffary  for  the 
farmers  ro  be  (low  a  large  {hare  of  their  labour  in  pro¬ 
viding  for  and  feeding  their  cattle  ;  but  in  the  fouthern 
Hates,  cattle. find  paflure  during  the  greateft  part  of 
the  winter,  in  the  fields  or  woods.  For  thefe  reafons, 
the  greatefl  part  of  the  weftern  counties  of  the  States, 
that  have  been  mentioned,  are  lettled  by  original  in¬ 
habitants  of  Pennfylvania.  During  the  late  war,  the 


POPULATION,  &C.  IN  PENNSYLVANIA.  225 

militia  of  Orange  county,  in  North  Carolina,  were 
enrolled,  and  their  number  amounted  to  3,500,  every 
man  of  whom  had  migrated  from  Pennfylvania.  From 
this  you  will  fee,  that  our  State  is  the  great  outport 
of  the  United  States  for  Europeans  >  and  that,  after 
performing  the  office  of  a  fieve  by  detaining  all 
thofe  people  who  poflefs  the  ftamina  of  induftry  and 
virtue,  it  allows  a  paflage  to  the  reft,  to  thofe  States 

which  are  accommodated  to  their  habits  of  indolence. 

1  T  J  >  *  1  '  '>  - 

A  %  • 

I  fhall  conclude  this  letter  by  remarking,  that  in 

/  -j  -y  •* 

the  mode  of  extending  population  and  agriculture, 

which  I  have  deferibed,  we  behold  a  new  fpecies  of 

• «  .  > 
i 

war.  The  third  fettler  may  be  viewed  as  a  conqueror. 

The  weapons  with  which  he  atchieves  his  conquefts, 

«  / 

are  the  implements  of  huffbandry :  and  the  virtues  which 
dire£t  them,  are  induftry  and  ceconomy.  Idlenefs — 
extravagance — and  ignorance  fly  before  him.  Happy 
would  it  be  for  mankind,  if  the  kings  of  Europe 
would  adopt  this  mode  of  extending  their  territories  : 
it  would  foon  put  an  end  to  the  dreadful  connexion, 

which  has  exifted  in  every  age,  between  war  and 

*  %  .  ;  .  . 

poverty,  and  between  conqueft  and  defolation. 

With  great  refpe^:, 

. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Sir, 

Your  moft  obedient 
humble  fervant. 


— 


a 


[An  account  of  the  manners  of  the  German 

INHABITANTS  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


THE  flate  of  Pennfylvania  is  fo  much  in¬ 
debted  for  her  profperity  and  reputation, 
to  the  German  part  of  her  citizens,  that  a  fhort 
account  of  their  manners  may,  perhaps,  be  ufeful 
and  agreeable  to  their  fellow  citizens  in  every  part 
of  the  United  States. 

I  >  \ 

t  ,  :  »  •  ■  *  y  ! 

The  aged  Germans,  and  the  anceftors  of  thofe  who 

-  •  •  *  •  t  r  9  • \ 

are  young,  migrated  chiefly  from  the  Palatinate ;  from 

Alcace,  Swabis,  Saxony,  and  Switzerland  :  but  natives 

of  every  principality  and  dukedom,  in  Germany,  are 

to  be  found  in  different  parts  of  the  flate.  They 

brought  but  little  property  with  them.  A  few  pieces 
/  , .  *  ,  •  < 
of  gold  or  filver  coin,  a  chefl  filled  with  clothes,  a 

.  i.  r 

bible,  and  a  prayer  or  an  hymn  book  conflituted  the 
whole  flock  of  mofl  of  them.  Many  of  them  bound 
themfelves,  or  one  or  more  of  their  children,  to  mas¬ 
ters  after  their  arrival,  for  four,  five,  or  feven  years, 
in  order  to  pay  for  their  paffages  acrofs  the  ocean* 
A  clergyman  always  accompanied  them  when  they 
came  in  large  bodies. 

The  principal  part  of  them  were  farmers  -,  but 
there  were  many  mechanics,  who  brought  with 
them  a  knowledge  of  thofe  arts  which  are  necef- 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GERMAN  1NHAB  ITANTs  &C*  2^7 

fary  and  ufeful  in  all  countries.  Thefe  mechanics 
were  chiefly  weavers,  taylors,  tanners,  (hoemakers, 
comb-makers,  fmiths  ot  all  kinds,  butchers,  paper- 
makers,  watch  makers,  and  fugar  bakers.  I  {hall 
begin  this  account  of  the  German  inhabitants  of 

4 

Pennsylvania,  by  describing  the  manners  of  the 
German  farmers. 

This  body  of  citizens  are  not  only  induftrious 
and  frugal,  but  fkilful  cultivators  of  the  earth.  I 
(hall  enumerate  a  few  particulars,  in  which  they 
differ  from  moft  of:  the  other  farmers  of  Pennsyl¬ 
vania. 

r 

i  ft.  In  fettling  a  tradl  of  land,  they  always  pro¬ 
vide  large  and  Suitable  accomodations  for  their  horfes 

t 

and  cattle,  before  they  lay  out  much  money  in 
building  a  houfe  for  themfelves.  The  barn  and 
the  {tables  are  generally  under  one  roof,  and  contrived 
in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  enable  them  to  feed  their 
horfes  and  cattle,  and  to  remove  their  dung,  with 
as  little  trouble  as  poffibie.  The  firft  dwelling  houfe 
upon  this  farm  is  fmall,  and  built  of  logs.  It  gen¬ 
erally  laft$  the  life  time  of  the  firft  fettler  of  a  tradt 
of  land  *,  and  hence  they  have  a  faying,  that  "  a 
<(  fon  Should  always  begin  his  improvements  where 
“  his  father  left  off,” — that  is,  by  building  a  large  and 
convenient  (tone  houfe. 

ad.  They  always  prefer  good  land  or  that  land 
on  which  there  is  a  large  quantity  of  meadow  ground. 


22$  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GERMAN 

From  an  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  grafs,  they 
often  double  the  value  of  an  old  farm  in  a  few  years, 
and  grow  rich  on  farms,  on  which  their  predeceffors 
of  whom  they  pur  chafed  them,  have  nearly  ftarved. 
They  prefer  purchafing  farms  with  fome  improvements 
to  fettling  on  a  new  trail  of  land. 

3d.  (n  clearing  new  land,  they  do  not  girdle  the 
trees  fimply,  and  leave  them  to  perifh  in  the  ground, 
as  is  the  cuftom  of  their  Englifh  or  Irifli  neighbours  ; 
but  they  generally  cut  them  down  and  burn  them. 
In  deftroying  under-wood  and  bufhes,  they  generally 
grub  them  out  of  the  ground  j  by  which  means  a  field 
is  as  fit  for  cultivation  the  fecond  year  after  it  is 

»  ,  ,  1  4  ,  .  ■  *  • 

cleared,  as  it  is  in  twenty  years  afterwards.  Ihe 
advantages  of  this  mode  of  clearing,  confift  in  the  im- 

f  '  -  *  )  •  ’  </-»'  '  **  '  -  ' 

mediate  produil  of  the  field,  and  in  the  greater  faci¬ 
lity  with  which  it  is  ploughed,  harrowed  and  reaped. 
The  expenfe  of  repairing  a  plough,  which  is  often 
broken  two  or  three  times  in  a  year  by  fmall  ftumps 
concealed  in  the  ground,  is  often  greater  than  the  ex- 
traord inary  expenfe  of  grubbing  the  fame  field  com¬ 
pletely,  in  clearing  it. 

4th.  They  feed  their  horfes  and  cows;  of  which 
they  keep  only  a  fmall  number,  in  fuch  a  manner, 

p  9  1  *  {'  • 

that  the  former  perform  twice  the  labour  of  thofe 
horfes,  and  the  latter  yield  twice  the  quantity  of 
milk  of  thofe  cows,  that  are  lefs  plentifully  fed. 
There  is  great  ceconomy  in  this  practice,  efpecially 


INHABITANTS  ®F  PENNSYLVANIA.  22$ 

in  a  country  where  fo  much  of  the  labour  of  a 
farmer  is  necefiary  to  fupport  his  domeftic  ani- 
mals.  A  German  horfe  is  known  in  every  part 
of  the  (late  :  indeed  he  feems  to  **  feel  with  his 
“  lord,  the  pleafure  and  the  pride”  of  his  ex¬ 
traordinary  fize  or  fat. 

5th.  The  fences  of  a  German  farm  are  generally 
high,  and  well  built •,  fo  that  his  fields  feldom  fuf- 
fer  from  the  inroads  of  his  own  or  his  neighbours, 
hcrfes,  cattle,  hogs,  or  fheep. 

6th.  The  German  farmers  are  great  oeconomifts  of 

*  • 

their  wood.  Hence  they  burn  it  only  in  floves,  in  which 
they  confume  but  a  4th.  or  5th.  part  of  what  is  com- 
monly  burnt  in  ordinary  open  fire  places  :  befides, 
their  horfes  are  faved  by  means  of  this  ceconomy, 
from  that  immenfe  labour,  in  hauling  wood  in  the 
middle  of  winter,  which  frequently  unfits  the  horfes 
of  their  neighbours  for  the  toils  of  the  enfuing  fpring. 
Their  houfes  are,  moreover,  rendered  fo  comfortable, 
at  all  times,  by  large  clofe  (loves,  that  twice  the 
bufinefs  is  done  by  every  branch  of  the  family, in  knit- 
ing,  fpinning,  and  mending  farming  utenfils,  that  is 
done  in  houfes  where  every  member  of  the  family 
crouds  near  to  a  common  fire-place,  or  fhivers  at  a 
diftance  from  it, — with  hands  and  fingers  that  move, 
by  reafon  of  the  cold,  with  only  half  their  ufual  quick- 
nefs. 


23O  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GERMAN 

They  difcover  oeconomy  in  the  prefervation  and  in- 
creafe  of  their  wood  in  feveral  other  ways.  They 
fometimes  defend  it,  by  high  fences,  from  their  cattle  \ 
by  which  means  the  young  foreft  trees  are  fuffered 
to  grow,  to  replace  thofe  that  are  cut  down  for  the 
neceflary  ufe  of  the  farm.  But  where  this  cannot  be 
conveniently  done,  they  furround  the  flump  of  that  tree 
which  is  moll  ufeful  for  fences,  viz.  the  chefnut,  with 

f 

a  fmall  triangular  fence.  From  this  flump  a  number 

of  fuckers  fhoot  out  in  a  few  years,  two  or  three  of 

* 

which  in  the  courfe  of  five  and  twenty  years,  grow 
into  trees  of  the  fame  fize  as  the  tree  from  whofe 
roots  they  derived  their  origin. 

7th.  They  keep  their  horfes  and  cattle  as  warm, 
as  poffible  in  winter,  by  which  means  they  fave  a 
great  deal  of  their  hay  and  grain  ;  for  thofe  animals 
when  cold,  eat  much  more  than  when  they  are  in  a 
more  comfortable  fituation. 

8th.  The  German  farmers  live  frugally  in  their 
families,  with  refpedl  to  diet,  furniture  and  apparel. 
They  fell  their  mofl  profitable  grain,  which  is  wheat  \ 
and  eat  that  which  is  iefs  profitable,  but  more  nourifh- 
ing,  that  is  rye  or  Indian  corn.  The  profit  to  a  farmer* 
from  this  fingle  article  of  oeconomy,  is  equal,  in  the 
courfe  of  a  life  time,  to  the  price  of  a  farm  for 
one  of  his  children.  They  eat  fparingly  of  boiled 
animal  food,  with  large  quantities  of  vegetables, 
particularly  fallad,  turnips,  onions,  and  oabbage. 


INHABITANTS  OF  PENNSYLVANIA,  23  1 

the  laft  of  which  they  make  into  four  crout .  They 
likewife  ufe  a  large  quantity  of  milk  and  cheefe 
in  their  diet.  Perhaps  the  Germans  do  not  propor¬ 
tion  the  quantity  of  their  animal  food,  to  the  degrees 
of  their  labour;  hence  it  has  been  thought,  by  fome 
people,  that  they  decline  in  ftrength  fooner  than  their 
.  Englifh  or  Irifh  neighbours.  Very  few  of  them 
ever  ufe  diflilled  fpirits  in  their  families:  their  com¬ 
mon  drinks  are  cyder,  beer,  wine,  and  fimple  water. 
The  furniture  of  their  houfe  is  plain  and  ufeful. 
They  cover  thcmfeves  in  winter  with  light  feather 
beds  inftead  of  blankets :  in  this  contrivance  there  is 
both  convenience,  and  ceconomy,  for  the  beds  are 
warmer  than  blankets,  and  they  are  made  by  thern- 
felves.  The  apparel  of  the  German  farmers  is  u- 
fually  home fpun .  When  they  ufe  European  articles 

of  drefs,  they  prefer  thofe  which  are  of  the  beft  qua- 
lity,  and  of  the  higheft  price.  They  are  afraid  of 
debt,  and  feldom  purchafe  any  thing  without  paying 
cafh  for  it. 

9th,  The  German  farmers  have  large  or  profitable 
gardens  near  their  houfes.  Thefe  contain  little  elfe  but 
ufeful  vegetables.  Pennfylvania  is  indebted  to  the  Ger¬ 
mans  for  the  principal  part  of  her  knowledge  in  hor¬ 
ticulture.  There  was  a  time  when  turnips  and  cabbage 
were  the  principal  vegetables  that  were  ufed  in  diet  by 
the  citizens  of  Philadelphia.  This  will  not  furprife 

•  m 

thofe  perfons,  who  know  that  the  firft  Englifh  fcttlers 
in  Pennfylvania  left  England  while  horticulture  was  in 

I 


/ 


I 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GERMAN 

its  infancy  in  that  country.  It  was  not  till  the  rcigti 
of  William  III.  that  this  ufeful  and  agreeable  art  was 
cultivated  by  the  Englifh  nation.  Since  the  fettlement 
of  a  number  of  German  gardeners  in  the  neighbour¬ 
hood  of  Philadelphia,  the  tables  of  all  defies  of  citizens 
have  been  covered  with  a  variety  of  vegetables,  in 
every  feafon  of  the  year;  and  to  the  ufe  of  thefe 
vegetables,  in  diet,  may  be  aferibed  the  general  exemp¬ 
tion  of  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia  from  aifeafes 
of  the  fkin. 


loth.  The  Germans  feldom  hire  men  to  work  upon 
their  farms.  The  feeblenefs  of  that  authority  which 
maflers  poffefses  over  hired  fervants,  is  fuch  that  their 
w  ages  are  feldom  procured  from  their  labour,  except 
in  harveft,  when  they  work  in  the  prefence  of  their/ 
maflers.  The  wives  and  daughters  of  the  German 
farmers  frequently  for  fake,  for  a  while,  their  dairy  and 
fpinning-wfieel,  and  join  their  hufbands  and  brothers  in 
the  labour  of  cutting  down,  collecting  and  bringing 
home  the  fruits  of  their  fields  and  orchards  The  work 
of  the  gardens  is  generally  done  by  the  women  of  the 
family. 


ixth.  A  .  large  and  ftrong  waggon  covered  with 
linen  cloth,  is  an  eflential  part  of  the  furniture  of  a 

German  farm.  In  this  waggon,  drawn  by  four  or 

. 

five  large  horfes  of  a  peculiar  breed:  they  convey  to 
market  over  the  vougheft  roads,  between  2  or  3  thou- 
fand  pounds  weight  of  the  produce  of  their  farms.  In 


INHABITANTS  0£  PENNSYLVANIA.  233 

the  months  of  September  and  October,  it  is  no  uncom¬ 
mon  tiling,  on  the  Lancafter  and  Reading  roads,  to 
meet  in  one  day  from  fifty  to  an  hundred  of  thefe  wag¬ 
gons,  on  their  way  to  Philadelphia,  moft  of  which  be¬ 
long  to  German  farmers. 

1 2th.  The  favourable  influence  of  agriculture,  as 
conducted  by  the  Germans  in  extending  human  hap- 
pincfs,  is  manifefted  by  the  joy  they  exprcfs  upon  the 
birth  of  a  child.  No  dread  of  poverty,  nor  diftruft  of 
Providence  from  an  encreafmg  family,  deprefs  the 
fpirits  of  thefe  induftrious  and  frugal  people.  Upon 
the  birth  of  a  fon,  they  exult  in  the  gift  of  a  ploughman 
or  a  waggoner  ;  and  upon  the  birth  of  a  daughter,  they 
rejoice  in  the  addition  of  another  fpinfter,  or  milkmaid 
to  their  family.  Happy  ftate  of  human  fociety  !  what 
bleflings  can  civilization  confer,  that  can  atone  for  the 
extinction  of  the  ancient  and  patriarchal  pleafure  of 
railing  up  a  numerous  and  healthy  family  of  children, 
to  labour  for  their  parents,  for  themfelves,  and  for  their 
country  ;  and  finally  to  partake  of  the  knowledge  andhap- 
pinefs  which  are  annexed  to  exiftence  !  The  ioy  of  pa¬ 
rents  upon  the  birth  of  a  child  is  the  grateful  echo  of 
creating  goodnefs.  May  the  mountains  of  Pennfyivania 
be  for  ever  vocal;  with  longs  of  joy  upon  thefe 
occafibns  !  They  will  be  the  infallible  figns  of  inno¬ 
cence,  iiidufiry,  wealth  and  happinefs  in  the  ftate. 

% 

% 

13th.  The  Germans  take  great  pains  to  pfqduce, 

✓ % 

in  their  children,  not  only  habits  of  labour,  but  a  love 

H  li 


2^4  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  C  Ell  MAN 

of  it.  Ia  this  they  fubmit  to  the  irreverfible  fentence 
infli&ed  upon  man,  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  to  convert 
the  \v:ath  ot  heaven  into  private  and  public  happinefs. 
“  To  fear  God,  and  to  love  work,”  are  the  firfl  leffons 
they  teach  their  children.  They  prefer  induftrious  ha¬ 
bits  to  money  itfelf ;  hence,  when  a  young  man  afks 
the  confent  of  his  father  to  marry  the  girl  of  his  choice, 
he  does  not  enquire  fo  much  whether  fhe  be  rich  or 
poor  ?  or  whether  fhe  poffcfses  any  perfonal  or  mental 
accompiifhments — as  whether  fhe  be  indufliious,  and 
acquainted  with  the  duties  of  a  good  houfe-wife  ? 

14th.  The  Germans  feta  great  value  upon  patrimo¬ 
nial  property.  This  ufeful  principle  in  human  nature 
prevents  much  folly  and  vice  in  young  people.  It 
moreover  leads  to  lafting  and  extenfive  advantages,  in 
the  improvement  of  a  farm  *,  for  what  inducement  can 
be  ftronger  in  a  parent  to  plant  an  orchard,  to  preferve 
forefl-trees  or  to  build  a  commodious  and  durable 
lioufe,  than  the  idea,  that  they  will  all  be  pcffefsed  by  a 
fucceftionof  generations,  who  fhall  inherit  his  blood  and 
name. 

15th.  The  German  farmers  are  very  much  influenc- 

1 

ed  in  planting  and  pruning  trees,  aljfo  in  fowing  and 

reaping,  by  the  age  and  appearances  of  the  moon. 

This  attention  to  the  ft  ate  of  the  moon  has  been  aferibed 

to  fuperftition ,  but  if  the  facts  related  by  Mr.  Wilfcn 

* 

in  his  obfervations  upon  climates  are  true,  part  of  their 
fuccels  in  agriculture  rauft  be  aferibed  to  their  being 
fo  much  influenced  by  it. 


INHABITANTS  OF  PENNSYLVANIA.  235 

N  ' 

1 6th.  From  the  hiftory  that  has  been  given  of  the 
German  agriculture,  it  will  hardly  be  neceflary  to  add 
that  a  German  farm  may  be  diftinguiflied from  the  farms 

of  the  other  citizens  of  the  (late,  by  the  fuperior  fize 

.  .  ^  < 

of  their  barns ;  the  plain,  but  compact  form  of  their 
houfes;  the  height  of  their  enclofures;  the  extent  of 
their  orchards;  the  fertility  of  their  fields;  the  luxuri¬ 
ance  of  their  meadows,  and  a  general  appearance  of 
plenty  and  neatnefs  in  everything  that  belongs  to  them. 

The  German  mechanic  poffefies  fome  of  the  traits 
of  the  character  that  has  been  drawn  of  the  German 
farmer.  His  firft  object  is  to  beepme1  a  freeholder; 
and  hence  we  find  few  of  them  live  in  rented  houfes. 
The  higheft  compliment  that  can  be  paid  to  them  on 
entering  their  houfes  is  to  afk  them,  “  is  this  houfe 
your  own.”  They  are  induftrious,  frugal,  punctual 
and  juft.  Since  their  fettlement  in  Pennfylvania, 
many  of  them  have  acquired  a  knowledge  of  thofe 
mechanical  arts,  which  are  more  immediately  necefia-  * 
ry  and  ufeful  in  a  new  country ;  while  they  continue 
at  the  fame  time,  to  carry  on  the  arts  they  impor- 

m 

ted  from  Germany,  with  vigour  and  fuccefs. 

But  the  genius  of  the  Germans  of  Pennfylvania,  is 
not  confined  to  agriculture  and  the  mechanical  arts. 
Many  of  them  have  acquired  great  wealth  by  foreign 
and  domeftic  commerce.  As  merchants  they  are  can¬ 
did  and  punctual.  The  bank  of  North  America  has 
witnefled,  from  its  firft  inftitution,  their  fidelity  to  aft 
their  pecuniary  engagements. 


236  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GERMAN 

Thus  far  have  I  defcribed  the  individual  chara£ter  of 
feveral  orders  of  the  German  citizens  of  Pennfylvania. 
I  fhall  now  take  notice  of  feme  of  their  manners  in 
a  collective  capacity.  All  the  different  fe£ts  among 
them  are  particularly  attentive  to  the  religious  educa- 
cation  of  their  children,  and  to  the  eftabUfliment  and 
fupport  of  the  chriftian  religion.  For  this  purpofe 
they  fettle  as  much  as  poffibie  together — and  make  the 
erection  of  a  fchool  houlc  and  a  place  of  worfhip  the 
fine  object  of  their  care  They  commit  the  educa¬ 
tion  and  inftrudtion  of  their  children  in  a  peculiar 
manner  to  the  mimfters  and  officers  of  their  churches  \ 

.  1 

— hence  they  grow  up  with  prejudices  111  favour  of  pub¬ 
lic  worfhip,  and  of  the  obligations  of  cliriftianity. 
Such  has  been  the  influence  of  a  pious  education 
among  the  German  Lutherans  in  Pennfylvania,  that 
in  the  courfe  of  nineteen  years  only  one  of  them 
has  ever  been  brought  to  a  place  of  public  fhame  on 
punifhment. 

As  members  of  civil  government,  the  Germans 
are  peaceable — and  exact  in  the  payment  of  their  tax¬ 
es.  Since  they  have  participated  in  the  power  of 
the  ftate;  many  of  them  have  become  fenfible  and 
enlightened  in  the  fcience  of  kgiflation.  Pennfylvania 
has  had  the  fpeaker’s  chair  of  her  afiembly,  and 
the  vice-prefidem's  office  of  her  council,  filled  with 
dignity  by  gentlemen  of  German  families.  The  fame 
gentlemen  have  fince  been  advanced  to  feats  in  the 

c 

ho^fe  of  reprefentatives,  under  the  new  constitution 


INHABITANTS  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


*37 


of  the  United  States.  In  the  great  contraverfy  about 
the  national  government,  a  large  majority  of  the 
Germans  in  Pennfyivania  decided  in  favour  of  its 
adoption,  tiotwithftanding  the  moft  popular  arts  were 
ufed  to  prejudice  them  againft  it. 

The  Germans  are  but  little  addicled  to  convivial 
pleafures. 

They  feldom  meet  for  the  fimpie  purpofe  of  eating 
and  drinking  in  what  are  juftly  called  “  feeding 
“  parties”  ;  but  they  are  not  ftrangers  to  tlie  virtue 

*  *  '  <4.1  m 

of  hofpitality. — The  hungry  or  benighted  traveller, 
is  always  fure  to  find  a  hearty  welcome  under  their 
roofs.  A  gentleman  of  Irifii  extradlion,  who  loft 

m 

his  way  in  travelling  through  Lancalter  county, 

called  late  at  night  at  the  door  of  a  German  farmer. 

% 

He  was  kindly  received  and  entertained  with  the 
bell:  of  every  thing  the  houfe  afforded.  The  next 
morning,  he  offered  to  pay  his  hoft  for  his  lodging, 
and  other  accommodations  :  u  No”  faid  the  friendly 
German,  in  broken  Engliih — cc  1  will  take  nothing 
cc  from  you.  I  was  once  loft,  and  entertained,  as 
i(  you  have  been,  at  the  houfe  of  a  ftranger  who 
<c  would  take  no  pay  from  me  for  his  trouble.  I 
u  am  therefore  now  only  difcharging  that  debt : — 
“  do  you  pay  your  debt  to  me  in  the  fame  way 
to  fomebodv  elfe.” — 

J 

They  are  extremely  kind  and  friendly  as  neighbours. 
They  often  affift  each  ether  by  loans  of  money  for 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GERMAN 


238 


a  fliort  time,  without  intereft,  when  the  purchafe 
of  a  plantation  makes  a  larger  fum  necefiary  than  is 
commonly  poffefsed  by  a  fingle  farmer.  To  fecure 
their  confidence,  it  is  neceuary  to  bepun&ual.  They 
never  lend  money  a  fecond  time,  to  a  mail  who  has 
once  difappoiuted  them  in  paying  what  he  had  bor¬ 
rowed  agreeably  to  his  promife  or  obligation.  It 
was  remarked,  during  the  late  war,  that  there  were 
very  few  inftances  of  any  of  them  difeharging  a  bond, 
or  a  debt,  with  depreciated  paper  money. 


It  lias  been  faid,  that  the  Germans  are  deficient  in 
learning  *,  and  that  in  confequence  of  their  want  of 
more  general  and  e.x  ten  five  education,  they  are 

.  ♦  i 

nuurh  addicted  to  fupe'rftition,  and  are  frequently 
impofed  upon  in  the  management  of  their  affairs. 
Many'  of  them  have  loft  valuable  eftates  by  beine 
unacquainted  with  the  common  forms  of  law,  in  the 
mod  fimple  tran  fact  ions  *,  and  many  more  of  them 
have  loft  their  lives,  by  applying  to  quacks  in  fick- 
nefs  :  but  this  objection  to  the  Germans  will  foon 
ceafe  to  have  any  foundation  in  Pennfylvania.  Seve¬ 
ral  young  men,  born  of  German  parents,  have  been 
educated  in  law,  phyfic  and  divinity,  who  have  de- 
monftrated  by  their  abilities  and  knowledge,  that  the 
German  genius  for  literature  has  not  depreciated  in 
America.  A  college  has  lately  been  founded  by  the 
ftate  in  Lancafter, f  and  committed  chiefly  to  the  care 

■f-  This  college  is  called  after  Dr.  Franklin,  who  was  prefident 
of  the  f-ate  at  the  time  it  was  founded,  and  who  cojatiibutcd  very  liberally 
to  its  funds. 


IXHx\BITA^TS  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


239 


of  the  Germans  of  a!!  feels,  for  the  purpofe  of  di  Ru¬ 
ling  learning  among  their  children.  In  this  college 
they  are  to  be  taught  the  German  and  Engllfh  lan¬ 
guages,  and  all  thofe  branches  of  literature  which  are 
ufually  taught  in  the  colleges  of  Europe  and  America. 
The  principal  of  this  college  is  a  native  of  Pennfylvania, 
of  German  parentage.*  His  extenfive  knowledge  and 
tafte  in  the  arts  and  fciences,  joined  with  his  induRry 
in  the  difeharge  of  the  duties  of  his  Ration,  have 
afforded  to  the  friends  of  learning  in  Pennfylvania,  the 

t 

moft  flattering  profpecls  of  the  future  importance  and 
ufefulnefs  of  this  inftitution, 

Both  fexes  of  the  Germans  difeover  a  firong  propen¬ 
sity  to  vocal  and  inftrumental  mufic.  They  excel,  in 
pfalmody,  all  the  other  religious  focieties  in  the  Rate. 

The  freedom  and  toleration  of  the  government  has 
produced  a  variety  of  fe£ts,  among  the  Germans  in 
Pennfylvania.  The  Lutherans  compofe  a  great  propor¬ 
tion  of  the  German  citizens  of  the  Rate.  Many  of  their 

* 

churches  are  large  and  fplendid.  The  German  Prefbyte- 
rians  are  the  next  to  them  in  numbers.  Their  churches 
are  likewife  large  and  furniflied,  in  many  places,  with 
organs.  The  clergy,  belonging  ro  thefe  churches,  have 
moderate  fahries,  but  they  are  puruftually  and  juRly 
paid.  In  the  country  they  have  glebes  which  are  Rocked 
and  occafionally  worked  by  their  congregations.  The 


*  The  Reverend  Dr.  Fisnr y  Muhlenberg. 


240 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GERMAN 


extra  expences  of  their  miniflers,  in  all  their  excursions 
to  their  ecclefiaftical  meetings,  are  borne  by  their  ref- 
pedtive  congregations.  By  this  means  the  difcinllne 
and  general  interefts  of  their  churches  are  preferved 
and  promoted.  The  German  Lutherans  and  Prefby- 
terians  live  in  great  harmony  with  each  other,  infomuch 
that  they  often  preach  in  each  other’s  churches,  and  in 
fome  inftances  unite  in  building  a  church,  in  which 
they  both  worfhip  at  different  times.  This  harmony 

between  two  fedts,  one  fo  much  oppofed  to  each 

*  • 

other,  is  owing  to  the  relaxation  of  the  Prefbyterians  in 
fome  of  the  peculiar  dodirines  of  Calvanifm.  I  have 
called  them  Prefbyterians,  becaufe  mod  of  them  object 
to  being  defignated  by  the  name  of  Calvanifls.  The 
Menonifts,  the  Moravians,  the  Swingfielders,  and  the 
Catholics,  compofe  the  other  fedts  of  the  German  inha¬ 
bitants  of  Pennfylvania.  The  Menonifts  hold  war 
and  oaths  to  be  unlawful.  They  admit  the  facraments 
of  baptifm,  by  fprinkling ,  and  the  fupper.  From  them  a 
fedt  has  arifen,  who  hold,  with  the  above  principles  and 
ceremonies,  the  neceflity  of  immerfion  baptifm  ;  hence 
they  are  called  D linkers ^  or  Baptifts.  Previoufly  to 
their  partaking  of  the  facrament  of  the  fupper,  they 
wafli  eaqh  other’s  feet,  and  fit  down  to  a  love-feaft. 
They  practice  thefe  ceremonies  of  their  religion  with 
great  humility  and  folemnity.  They,  moreover,  hold 
the  doctrine  of  univerfal  falvation.  From  this  fedt 
there  have  been  feveral  feceders,  one  of  whom  devoted 
themfelves  to  perpetual  celibacy.  They  have  exhibited 


INHABITANTS  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


241 


for  many  years,  a  curious  fpedtacle  of  pious  mortifica¬ 
tion,  at  a  village  called  Ephrata,  in  Lancalter  county^ 
They  are  at  prefent  reduced  to  fourteen  or  fifteen 
members.  The  Separates  who  likewife  diffented  from 
the  Dunkers,  reject  the  ordinances  of  baptifin  and  the 
facrament;  and  hold  the  dodtrine  of  the  Friends,  con¬ 
cerning  the  internal  revelation  of  the  gofpel.  They 
hold,  with  the  Dunkers,  the  dodtrine  of  univerfal  fal- 
vation.  The  Angular  piety,  and  exemplary  morality  c£ 
thefe  fedts,  have  been  urged,  by  the  advocates  for  the 
falvation  of  all  mankind,  as  a  proof  that  the  belief  of 
that  dodtrine  is  not  fo  unfriendly  to  morals,  and  the 
order  of  fociety,  as  has  been  fuppofed.  The  Dunkers 
and  Separatifts  agree  in  taking  110  intereft  upon 
money,  and  in  not  applying  to  lav/  to  recover  their 
debts. 

The  German  Moravians  are  a  numerous  and  refpec- 
table  body  of  chriftians  in  Pennfylvania.  In  thei  r 
village  of  Bethlehem,  there  are  two  large  (tone  buildings, 
in  which  the  different  fexes  are  educated  in  habits  of 
induftry  in  ufeful  manufactures.  The  -filters  (for  by 
that  epithet  the  women  are  called)  all  lleep  in  two 
large  and  neat  apartments.  Two  of  them  watch  over 
the  reft,  in  turns,  every  night,  to  afford  relief  from 
thofe  fudden  indifpofitions  which  fometimes  occur,  in 
the  moll  healthy  perfons,  in  the  hours  of  lleep.  It 
is  impoffible  to  record  this  fadt,  without  paufing  a 
moment  to  do  homage  to  that  religion,  which  pro- 


24 2  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GERMAN 

duces  fo  much  union  and  kindnefs  in  human  fouls. 
The  number  of  women,  who  belong  to  this  fequeft- 
ered  female  fociety,  amounts  fometimes  to  120,  and 
feldom  to  lefs  than  100.  It  is  remarkable  thar  not- 

% 

withstanding  they  lead  a  fedentary  life,  and  fet  con- 
ftantly  in  clofe  ftove-rooms  in  winter,  that  not  more 
than  one  of  them,  upon  an  average,  dies  in  a  year. 
The  difeafe  which  generally  produces  this  annual 
death,  is  the  confumption.  The  conditions  and  ages 
of  the  women  of  the  village,  as  well  as  of  the  fociety 
that  has  been  mentioned,  are  diftinguhhed  by  ribbons 
of  a  peculiar  kind  which  they  wear  on  their  caps  ; 
the  widows,  by  white  ;  the  married  women,  by  blue ; 
the  Tingle  women,  above  1 8  years  of  age,  by  pink ; 
and  thofe  under  that  age,  by  a  ribbon  of  a  cinnamon 
colour.  Formerly  this  body  of  Moravians  held  all 
their  property  in  common  in  imitation  of  the  primi¬ 
tive  chriftians ;  but,  in  the  year  17 60,  a  divifion  of 
.  the  whole  of  it  took  place,  except  a  tavern,  a  tan-yard, 
2000  acres  of  land  near  Bethlehem,  and  5000  acres 
near  Nazareth,  a  village  in  the  neigbourhood  of 
Bethlehem.  The  profits  of  thefe  eftates  are  appropri¬ 
ated  to  the  fupport  and  propagation  of  the  gofpel. 
There  are  many  valuable  manufactures  carried  on  at 
Bethlehem.  The  inhabitants  poflefs  a  gentlenefs  in 

their  manners,  which  is  peculiarly  agreeable  to  ftrangers. 

« 

They  inure  their  children,  of  five  and  fix  years  old,  to 
habits  of  early  induftry.  By  this  means  they  are  not 
enly  taught  thofe  kinds  of  labor  which  are  fuited  t# 


t 


INHABITANTS  OF  PENNSYLVANIA.  24$ 

■  1 

their  flrength  and  capacities,  but  are  preferved  from 
many  of  the  hurtful  vices  and  accidents  to  which 
children  are  expofed. 

The  Swingfielders  are  a  fmall  fociety.  They  hold 
the  Came  principles  as  the  Friends,  but  they  differ 
from  them  in  ufing  pfalmody  in  their  worfhip. 

The  German  Catholics  are  numerous  in  Philadelphia, 
and  have  fever  al  fmall  chapels  in  other  parts  of  the  • 
ftate. 

There  is  an  incorporated  charitable  fociety  of 
Germans  in  Philadelphia,  whofe  objects  are  their 
poor  and  diftreffed  countrymen. 

There  is  likewife  a  German  fociety  of  labourers 
and  journeymen  mechanics,  who  contribute  2S.  6d. 
eight  times  a  year,  towards  a  fund,  out  of  which  they 
allow  3qs.  a  week  to  each  other’s  families,  when  the 
head  of  it  is  unable  to  work;  and  7I.  10s  to  his 
widow,  as  foon  as  he  is  taken  from  his  family  by 
death. 

The  Germans  of  Pennfylvania,  including  all  the  fedts 
that  have  been  mentioned,  compofe  nearly  one  third 
part  of  the  whole  inhabitants  of  the  ftate. 

The  intercourfe  of  the  Germans  with  each  other, 
is  kept  up  chiefly  in  their  own  language  ;  but  mod 
of  their  men,  who  vifit  the  capital,  and  the  trading 
or  country  towns  of  the  ftate,  fpeak  the  Englilh  lan- 


244  AN  account  of  the  german 

guage.  A  certain  number  of  the  laws  of  the  (late 
are  now  printed  in  German,  for  the  benefit  of  thofe 
of  them  who  cannot  read  Englifh.  A  large  number 
of  German  news-papers  are  likewife  circulated  through 
the  ftate,  through  which  knowledge  and  intelligence 
have  been  conveyed,  much  to  the  advantage  of  the  go¬ 
vernment.  There  is  fcarcely  an  inftance  of  a  German, 
of  either  fex,  in  Pennfylvania,  that  cannot  read ;  but 
many  of  the  wives  and  daughters  of  the  German  far¬ 
mers  cannot  write.  The  prefent  ftate  of  fociety  among 

them  renders  this  accomplifhrnent  of  little  confequence 

*  '  *  •  /  • 

to  their  improvement  or  happinefs. 

If  it  were  poffible  to  determine  the  amount  of  all 

the  property  brought  into  Pennfylvania  by  the  prefent 

German  inhabitants  of  the  ftate,  and  their  anceftors, 

< 

and  then  compare  it  with  the  prefent  amount  of  their 
property,  the  contrail  would  form  fuch  a  monument 
of  human  indujlry  and  c economy  as  has  feldom  been 
contemplated  in  any  age  or  country. 

I  have  been  informed  that  there  was  an  ancient 
prophecy  which  foretold,  that  “  God  would  blefs 
<c  the  Germans  in  foreign  countries.”  This  predic¬ 
tion  has  been  faithfully  verified  in  Pennfylvania. 
They  enjoy  here  every  bieflingthat  liberty,  toleration, 

independence,  affluence,  virtue  and  reputation,  can 

■  •  •  .... 

confer  upon  them. 

*  •  »  .  f 

i  •  l  i  • » •  - •  J  *  *  •  ■  -  .  •  /  J  .  ^  .  i  :  i  i  • ./  /I  £  *  •  , 

How  different  is  their  fituation  here  •,  from  what 

'  * '  •  '  t  ■  •  * 

it  was  in  Germany  !  Could  the  fubje&s  of  the  prince* 


245 


INHABITANTS  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 

of  Germ  an  y,  who  now  groan  away  their  lives  in 
flavery  and  unprofitable  labour,  view  from  an  emi¬ 
nence,  in  the  month  of  June,  the  German  fettlements 
of  Stratfburg,  or  Manheim  in  Lancaiter  county,  or  of 
Lebanon  or  Bethlehem  in  the  counties  of  Dauphin 
and  Northampton  ;  could  they  be  accompanied  on  this 
eminence,  by  a  venerable  German  farmer,  and  be 
told  by  him  that  many  of  thofe  extenfive  fields  of 
grain,  full-fed  herds,  luxuriant  meadows,  orchards, 
promifing  loads  of  fruit,  together  with  the  fpacious 
barns — and  commodious  Hone-dwelling  houfes,  which 
compofe  the  profpects  that  have  been  mentioned, 
were  all  the  producl  of  the  labour  of  a  fingle  fa¬ 
mily,  and  of  one  generation  ;  and  that  they  were  all 
fecured  to  the  owners  of  them  by  certain  laws  •,  I 
am  perfuaded,  that  no  chains  would  be  able  to  detain 
them  from  {haring  in  the  freedom  of  their  Pennfyi- 
vania  friends  and  former  fellow-fubjedfs.  a  We 
will  aflert  our  dignity — (would  be  their  language) 
we  will  be  men — we  will  be  free — we  will  enjoy 
the  fruits  of  our  own  labours — we  will  no  longer 

o 

be  bought  and  fold  to  fight  battles — in  which  we 
have  neither  interest  nor  refentment — we  will  inherit 
a  portion  of  that  bleffing  which  God  has  promifed 
to  the  Germans  in  foreign  countries — we  will  be 
Pennfylvanians.” 

I  fhall  conclude  this  account  of  the  manners  of 
the  German  inhabitants  of  Pennfylvania  by  remark- 


246  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GERMAN 

ing  that  if  I  have  failed  in  doing  them  juftice,  it  has 
not  been  the  fault  of  my  fuhje£t.  The  German 
character  once  employed  the  pen  of  one  of  the  firft 
hiftorians  of  antiquity.  I  mean  the  elegant  and 
enlightened  Tacitus.  It  is  very  remarkable  that  the 
Germans  in  Pennfylvania  retain  in  a  great  degree 
all  the  virtues,  which  this  author  afcribes  to  their 
anceftors  in  his  treatife  “  de  moribus  Germanorum — 
They  inherit  their  integrity— fidelity — and  chaftity — 
but  chriilianity  has  banifhed  from  them,  their  drun- 
kennefs,  idlenefs,  and  love  of  military  glory.  There 
is  a  Angular  trait  in  the  features  of  the  German 
character  in  Pennfylvania,  which  {hews  how 
long  the  mod  trifling  cuftoms  may  exift  among  a 
people  who  have  not  been  mixed  with  other  nations. 
Tacitus  deferibes  the  manner  in  which  the  ancient 
Germans  build  their  villages  in  the  following  words. 
“  SiuiJrt  quifque  domurn  fpatiis  circumdat  five  adverfus 
tafus  ignis  rc medium,  five  infeitia  adificandi” Many 
of  the  German  villages  in  Pennfylvania  are  conftruc- 
ted  in  the  fame  manner.  Ths  fmall  houfes  are  com- 
pofed  of  a  mixture,  of  wood,  brick  and  clay,  neatly 
united  together.  The  large  houfes  are  built  of  (tone* 
and  many  of  them  after  the  Englifh  fafhion.  Very  few 
cf  the  houfes  in  Germantown  are  connected  together. 
— *Where  the  Germans  connect  their  houfes  in  their 

-J-  Rich  rmn  leave:  2  fpace  between  his  houfe,  and  thofe  of  his  neigh¬ 
bours,  either  to  avoid  the  danger  from  flic,  or  trom  unfkiifulntfs  in 
a.  chiledurs. 


INHABITANTS  OP  PENNSYLVANIA.  £47 

villages,  they  appear  to  have  deviated  from  one  of 
the  cuftoms  they  imported  from  Germany. 

Citizens  of  the  United  States  learn  from  th<5 
account  that  has  been  given  of  the  German  inhabitants 
of  Pennfylvania,  to  prize  knowledge  and  induftry  in 
agriculture  and  manufactures,  as  the  bafis  of  domeftifc 
happinefs  and  national  profperity. 

Legislators  of  the  United  States,  learn  from  the 
wealth,  and  independence  of  the  German  inhabitant* 
of  Pennfylvania,  to  encourage  by  your  example,  and 
laws,  the  x’epublican  virtues  of  induftry  and  economy. 
They  are  the  only  pillars  which  can  fupport  the  pr-efent 
conftitution  of  the  United  States. 

Legislators  of  Pennfylvania,— learn  from  die 
hiftory  of  your  German  fellow  citizens  that  you  pof- 
fefs  an  inexhauftible  treafure  in  the  bofom  of  the 
ftate,  in  their  manners  and  arts.  Continue  to  patro¬ 
nize  their  newly  eftabliftied  feminary  of  learning 
and  fpare  no  expenfe  in  fupporting  their  public 
free-fchools.  The  vices  which  follow  the  want 
of  religious  inftruCtion,  among  the  children  of  poor 
people,  lay  the  foundation  of  moft  of  the  jails,  and 
places  of  public  punifhment  in  the  ftate.  Do  not 
contend  with  their  prejudices  in  favour  of  their 
language.  It  will  be  the  channel  through  which 
the  knowledge  and  difeoveries  of  one  of  the  wifeft 
nations  in  Europe,  may  be  conveyed  into  our  coun- 


24$ 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GERMAN 


try.  In  proportion  as  they  are  inftrufted  and  en¬ 
lightened  in  their  own  language,  they  will  become 
acquainted  with  the  language  of  the  United  States, 
Invite  them  to  fhare  in  the  power  and  offices  of  go¬ 
vernment  :  it  will  be  the  means  of  producing  ail 
union  in  principle  and  conduct  between  them,  and 
thofe  of  their  enlightened  fellow-citizens  who  are 
defeended  from  other  nations.  Above  all,  cherifh 
with  peculiar  tendernefs,  thofe  fedts  among  them  who 
hold  war  to  be  unlawful. — Relieve  them  from  the 
oppreffion  of  abfurd  and  unneceffiary  militia  laws. 
Protect  them  as  the  repofitories  of  a  truth  of  the 
gofpel,  which  has  exifted  in  every  age  of  the  church, 
and  which  muft  fpread  hereafter  over  every  part  of  the 
world. 

The  opinions  refpedting  the  commerce  and  flavery 
of  the  Africans,  which  have  nearly  produced  a  revo¬ 
lution  in  their  favour,  in  fome  of  the  European  go¬ 
vernments,  were  tranfplanted  from  a  feet  of  chriftians 
in  Pennfylvania.  Perhaps  thofe  German  feels  of 
chriitians  among  us,  who  refufe  to  bear  arms  for  the 
purpofe  of  fhedding  hum?n  blood,  may  be  preferved  by 
divine  providence,  as  the  centre  of  a  circle,  which  ffiall 
gradually  embrace  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  in  a  per¬ 
petual  treaty  of  friendffiip  and  peace. 


Thoughts  on  Common  Sense#- 


THE  human  mind  in  common  with  other 
branches  of  philofophy,  has  become  the 
fubjeCt  of  attention  in  the  prefent  age  of  free  and 
general  enquiry.  While  new  faculties  are  difcover- 
ing  in  it,  it  will  conduce  equally  to  our  acquiring  a 
perfect  knowledge  of  its  powers,  to  detect  and  re¬ 
move  fuch  fuppofed  faculties  as  do  not  belong  to  it. 

I  have  long  fufpeCted  the  term  Common  Senfe  to  be 
applied  improperly  to  defignate  a  faculty  of  the  mind* 
I  fhall  not  repeat  the  accounts  which  have  been 
given  of  it  by  Cicero — Buffier — Berkely — Shaftcfbury 
- — Bentely — Fenelon- — Locke — Hume — Hobs  — Prieftly 
and  others,  all  of  whom  agree  in  deferibing  it  as 
a  faculty ,  or  part  of  a  faculty,  polfeffmg  a  quick  and 
univerfal  perception  of  right  and  wrong,  truth  and  er¬ 
ror,  and  of  propriety  and  impropriety  in  human  affairs. 

I  (hall  copy,  as  the  fubftance  of  all  that  thofe  au¬ 
thors  have  faid  upon  this  fubjeCt,  Dr.  Reid's  ac¬ 
count  of  common  fenfe,  publifhed  in  the  2d.  chapter 
of  the  fixth  number  of  his  Effays  on  the  intellectual 
powers  of  man. — “  It  is  abfurd  to  conceive  (fays  the 
Doftor)  that  there  can  be  any  oppofition  be- 
“  tween  reafon  and  common  fenfe.  It  is  the  firft- 
•  1  Kk 


25O  THOUGHTS  ON  COMMON  SENSE* 

/  . 

v. 

... 

c‘  born  of  reafon,  and,  as  they  are  commonly  joined 

"  together  In  fpeech  and  writing,  they  are  infeparable 
u  in  their  nature.” 

“  We  afcribe  to  reafon  two  offices  or  two  degrees. 

tc  The  firft  is  to  judge  of  things  felf-evident ;  the 

u  fecond  is  to  draw  conclufions  that  are  not  felf- 

“  evident  from  things  that  are.  The  firft  of  thefe 
*  .  ,  -  . 
u  1S  the  province,  and  the  foie  province,  of  common 

u  fenfe,  and  therefore  it  coincides  with  reafon  in  its 

u  whole  extent,  and  is  only  another  name  for  one 

K(  branch  or  one  degree  of  reafon.” 

“  There  is  an  obvious  reafon  why  this  degree  of 
ce  reafon  fhould  have  a  name  appropriated  to  it,  and 
w  that  is,  that  in  the  greatefl  part  of  mankind  no 
«  other  degree  of  reafon  is  to  be  found.  It  is  this 
“  degree  of  reafon  that  entitles  them  to  the  denomi- 

“  nation  of  reafonable  creatures.” 

%  •  .  . 

*  •  /  •  %  *  1  0  • 

f(  Thefe  two  degrees  of  reafon  differ  in  other 
“  refpe£ls,  which  would  be  fufficient  to  entitle  them 
«  to  diftinft  names.  The  firft  is  the  gift  of  heaven — 
(C  the  fecond  is  learned  by  practice  and  rules,  when 
“  the  firft  is  not  wanting.” - Thus  far  Dr.  Reid. 

*  s  w 

•a  *  «  1  1  r 

It  is  with  great  diffidence  that  I  objeft  to  any  thing 
that  comes  from  a  gentleman  from  whofe  writings  I 
have  derived  fo  much  entertainment  and  inftruftion, 
and  who  has  done  fo  much  towards  removing  the 
rubbifh  that  has  for  many  ages  obfeured  the  fcience 
©f  metaphyficks.  This  diffidence  to  offer  a  fingle  00- 


\ 

THOUGHTS  ON  COMMON  SENSE.  2$  I 

jettion  to  Ur.  Reid’s  opinion  upon  the  fubjett  under 
confideration,  is  encreafed  by  the  groupe  of  popular 
and  refpe£table  names  under  which  he  has  fupported 

it. 

*  ) 

The  idea  which  I  have  adopted  of  common  fenfe  is 
plain  and  fimple.  I  confider  it  as  the  perception  of 
things  as  they  appear  to  the  greatef  part  of  man¬ 
kind.  It  has  no  relation  to  their  being  true  or  fafe} 
right  or  wrong)  proper  or  improper.  For  the  fake  of 
perfpicuity,  1  fhall  define  it  to  be,  Opinions  and  feelings 
in  unifon  with  the  opinions  and  feelings  of  the  bulk  of 
mankind . 

From  this  definition  it  is  evident  that  common  fenfe 

* 

mud  neceffarily  differ  in  different  ages  and  countries 
and,  in  both,  muft  vary  with  the  progrefs  of  tade, 
fcience,  and  religion.  In  the  uncultivated  date  of 
reafon,  the  opinions  and  feelings  of  a  majority  of 
mankind  will  be  wrongs  and,  of  courfe,  their  com¬ 
mon  or  univerfal  fenfe  will  partake  of  their  errors. 
In  the  cultivated  date  of  reafon,  jufi  opinions  and 
feelings  will  become  general,  and  the  common  fenfe 
of  the  majority  will  be  in  unifon  with  truth.  I  beg 

X  — 

leave  to  illudrate  what  I  mean  by  a  few  examples. 

i.  There  are  many  things  which  were  contrary  to 
common  fenfe  in  former  ages,  both  in  philofophy 
and  religion,  which  are  now  univerfally  believed, 
infomuch  that  to  call  them  in  quedion  is  to  difcover  a 
want  of  judgment,  or  a  defective  education. 


# 


i 


THOUGHTS  ON  COMMON  SENSE. 

2.  It  is  contrary  to  common  fenfe  to  fpeak  or 
write  in  favour  of  republican! fm,  in  feveral  Euro¬ 
pean  countries ;  and  it  is  equally  contrary  to  it  to 
fpeak  or  write  in  favour  of  monarchy,  in  the  UnitecJ 
States  of  America. 

3.  The  common  fenfe  of  the  planters  in  Jamaica, 
is  in  favour  of  the  commerce  and  flavery  of  the  Afri¬ 
cans. — In  Pennfylvania,  reafon,  humanity,  and  com¬ 
mon  fenfe,  have  univerfally  declared  againfl:  them. 

4.  In  Turkey;  it  is  contrary  to  the  common  fenfe 
of  delicacy  which  prevails  in  that  country  for  a  gentle¬ 
man  to  dance  with  a  lady.  No  fuch  common  fenfe 
prevails  in  any  of  the  weftern  countries  of  Europe, 

*■  '  *  v  *» 

or  in  the  States  of  America. 

►  •  *  »  »  .  /  /  .  ^  .  > 

5.  It  is  contrary  to  the  common  fenfe  of  many 
numerous  fe£ts  to  believe  that  it  ispofiible  for  men 
to  go  to  heaven,  who  do  not  embrace  their  principles, 
or  mode  of  worfhip. —  Among  rational  men,  this 
common  fenfe  is  contrary  to  truth  and  chriftian  re- 

*  ,,  .  •'**»>%  •  v  $  *  **  '  • 

ligion. 

*  *  * 

6.  The  common  fenfe  of  mankind  has  generally 

' '  ■  '  '  i  u  ’  *  ■ '  .  >  1 

been  in  favour  of  eftablifhed  modes  and  habits  of  prac- 
tice,  in  medicine.  Opium,  bark,  mercury  and  the 
lancet  have  all  forced  their  way  into  general  ufe, 
contrary  to  this  common  fenfe.  Their  utility  is  a 
proof  how  little  common  fenfe  accords  with  the  deci- 


THOUGHTS  ON  COMMON  SENSE.  253 

(ions  of  reafon,  and  how  improperly  it  is  fuppofed  to 
be  a  part  of  that  noble  power  of  the  mind. 

7.  It  is  agreeable  to  the  common  fenfe  of  a  great 
part  of  mankind,  to  revenge  public  and  private  in¬ 
juries  by  wars  and  duels,  and  yet  no  wife  or  juft 
reafon  has  ever  been  given  tojuftify  the  practice  of 

cither  of  them 

«  '  «■  »  •  *  •  • » 

8.  The  common  fenfe  of  the  bulk  of  the  inhabi- 
tants  of  the  Britilh  dominions,  and  of  the  United 
States,  is  in  favour  of  boys  fpending  four  or  five  years 
in  learning  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages,  in  order 
to  qualify  them  to  underftand  the  Englifh  language^ 
Thofe  perfons  who  recoiled!  that  the  moft  perfect 
language  in  the  world,  viz.  the  Greek,  was  learned 
without  the  medium  or  aid  of  a  dead  or  foreign  lan¬ 
guage,  confider  the  above  practice  (founded  in  com¬ 
mon  fenfe)  as  contrary  to  right  reafon  and  productive 
of  many  evils  in  education.  But  further,  under  this 
head.  The  common  fenfe  of  the  fame  immenfe  pro¬ 
portion  of  people,  is  in  favour  of  teaching  boys  ?  vords, 

% 

before  they  are  taught  ideas.  Now  nature  and  right 
reafon  both  revolt  at  this  abfurd  practice. 

9 

9.  The  common  fenfe  of  nearly  all  nations,  is  in 
favour  of  preventing  crimes,  by  the  punifhment  of 
death,  but  right  reafon,  policy,  and  the  experience  of 
•a  wife  and  enlightened  prince, f  all  concur  in  proving 

1  - 


■J*  Leopold  Emperor  of  Germany. 


254  thoughts  on  common  sense. 

that  the  belt  means  of  preventing  crimes,  is  by  living 
and  not  by  dead  examples. 

In  the  perfection  of  knowledge,  common  fenfe 
and  truth  will  be  in  unifon  with  each  other.  It 

«  «.  w-  «!>/*•  .  i  '  ■  ,  |  V  i  l.’.k  •  r 

is  now  more  related  to  error  than  truth,  and  in  the 
fenfe  in  which  I  have  deferihed  it,  it  implies  more 
praife  than  cenfure  to  want  it. 

To  fay  that  a  man  has  common,  fenfe,  is  to  fay 

» 

that  he  thinks  with  his  age  or  country,  in  their  falfey 

•  ...» 

as  well  as  their  true  opinions  j  and  the  greater  the 
proportion  of  people,  he  aCts  and  thinks  with,  the 

^  ■  jf  m  y 

greater  {hare  he  poffeffes  of  this  common  fenfe. — 
After  all  that  has  been  faid  in  its  favour,  I  cannot 
help  thinking  that  it  is  the  charaCteriftic  only  of 
common  minds. 

To  think  and  a £1  with  the  majoiity  of  mankind, 
when  they  are  right ,  and  differently  from  them,  when 
they  are  wrongs  conftitutes  in  my  opinion,  the  perfec¬ 
tion  of  human  wifdom  and  conduCl. 

i 

The  feelings  and  opinions  of  mankind  are  often 
confounded  ;  but  they  are  widely  different  from  each 
other.  There  may  be  jujl  feelings  connected  with  erre- 
neons  opinions  and  conduCl.  This  is  often  the  cafe  in 
religion  and  government — But,  in  general,  opinions 
and  feelings  are  juft  and  un juft  in  equal  degrees,  ac- 

4 

cording  to  the  circumftances  of  age,  country,  and  the 
progrefs  of  knowledge  before  mentioned. 


THOUGHTS  OK  COMMON  STNsfe. 

Had  this  common  fenfe  depended  upon  the  inform 
mation  of  any  one  of  the  five  external  fenfes,  I  fhould 
have  had  no  difficulty  in  admitting  Dr.  Reid’s  account 

t  J  -  -  O  4  ’  ‘  (  rx 

\ 

of  it,  inafmuch  as  the  perceptions  they  afford  are  the 

fame ,  in  their  nature,  in  all  healthy  men,  and  in  all 

4  %  * 

ages  and  countries.  But  to  fuppofe  it  to  be  an  in¬ 
ferior  degree,  or  the  firf  a£t  of  reafon,  and  afterwards 
to  fuppofe  it  to  be  univerfaly  is  to  contradict  every 
thing  that  hiftoryand  obfervation  teach  us  of  human 

*  » *  .fljt  -  V  V 

*  7  * 

nature,  f 

In  matters  addreffed  to  our  reafon,  the  principal 
bufmefs  of  reafon  is  to  correct  the  evidence  of  our 

»  ♦  *  «  (  f  ^  *  »  * 

fenfes .  Indeed,  the  perception  of  truth,  in  philofophy, 

. 

feems  to  confift  in  little  clfe  than  in  the  refutation 
of  the  ideas  acquired  from  the  teftimony  of  cur 
fenfes.  In  the  progrefs  of  knowledge,  when  the  ex- 
a£t  connexion  between  the  fenfes  and  reafon  is  per- 

feclly  underft ood,  it  is  probable  that  the  fenfes  and 

*  *  • 

reafon  will  be  in  unifon  with  each  other,  and 
that  mankind  will  as  fuddenly  connect  the  evidence  of 
all  the  fenfes  with  the  decifions  of  reafon,  as  they  now 
conneft,  with  certainty,  the  diftance  of  objects  with 
the  evidence  of  the  eyes.  This  general  unifon  be¬ 
tween  the  fenfes  and  reafon,  as  in  the  cafe  of  vifion, 
mull  be  the  refult  only  of  experience  and  habit. 

I  cannot  difmifs  this  fubjeeft  without  adding  the 
following  remark. 

*  The  king  of  Prufiia,  in  his  pofehumous  works,  fay9,  t(  Reafon 
((  never  did  any  thing  great,”  by  which  he  mult  have  meant  the  cat:*- 
run  degrees  of  it,  or  wlut  is  called,  by  Dr,  Reid,  com  non  M*' 


! 

\ 


/ 


25 6  THOUGHTS  ON  COMMON  SENSE. 

Mankind  are  governed,  fays  Mr.  Bayle,  by  their 
prejudices,  and  not  by  their  principles.  To  do  them 
good,  we  muft,  in  fome  meafure,  conform  to  thofe 

prejudices  ; — hence  we  find  the  moft  acceptable  men 

♦ 

in  pra&ical  fociety,  have  been  thofe  who  have  never 
fhocked  their  cotemporaries,  by  oppofing  popular  or 
common  opinions.  Men  of  oppofite  characters,  like 
objects  placed  too  near  the  eye,  are  feldom  feen  dif- 
tinCUy  by  the  age  in  which  they  live.  They  muft 
content  themfelves  with  the  profpedts  of  being  ufeful 
to  the  diftant  and  more  enlightened  generations  which 
are  to  follow  them.  Galileo,  who  alked  pardon  of 
the  pope,  on  his  knees,  for  contradifting  the  com¬ 
mon  fenfe  of  the  church,  refpefting  the  revolution  of 
the  earth,  and  Dr.  Harvey,  who  loft  all  his  bufinefs, 
by  refufing  the  common  fenfe  of  former  ages,  refpeft- 
ting  the  circulation  of  the  blood,  now  enjoy  a  repu¬ 
tation  for  their  opinions  and  difcoveries,  which  has, 
in  no  inftance  ever  been  given  to  the  cold  blood  of 
common  fenfe. 

April  3  d  1791. 


f 


A*  account  of  the  vices  peculiar  to  the  Ik- 

f 

diaks  of  North  America, 


IT  has  become  fafhionable  of  late  years  for  the 
philofophers  of  Europe  to  celebrate  the  vir¬ 
tues  of  the  favages  of  America. — Whether  the  defign 
of  their  encomiums  was  to  expofe  chrifiiianity,  and 
depreciate  the  advantages  of  civilization,  I  know  not . 
but  they  have  evidently  had  thofe  effects  upon  the 
minds  of  weak  people.  Without  contradi&ing  the 

0 

accounts  that  have  been  publifhed  by  thofe  gentlemen, 
of  the  virtues  of  the  Indians  in  North  America,  I  (hall 
briefly  add  an  account  of  fome  of  their  vices,  in  order 
to  complete  their  natural  hiftory.  My  information 
(hall  be  taken  from  the  travels  of  Charlevoix-^Hen- 
nepen — Carver — Romans  and  Bartram,  and  fromcon- 
verfations  with  perfons  of  veracity  v/ho  have  refided 
among  them. 

The  firft  vice  I  {hall  name,  that  is  univerfal  among 
our  favages,  is  Uncleanness.  They  are,  in  general, 
ftrangers  to  the  obligations  both  of  morality  and  de¬ 
cency,  as  far  as  they  relate  to  the  marriage  bed. — The 
exceptions  to  this  remark,  have  been  produced  among 
thofe  nations  chiefly,  who  have  had  an  occaGonal  in- 
fcercourfe  with  civilized  nations. 


LI 


35$  AN  ACCOUNT  oy  THE  TICES 

3.  Nastiness  is  another  Indian  vice.  This  is  ex¬ 
emplified  in  their  food — drinks — drefs — perfons — and 
above  all,  in  their  total  difregard  to  decency  in  the 

time — place — and  tnanrter  of  their  natural  evacuations. 

/ 

3.  Drunkenness  is  a  more  general  vice  among  fa- 
rages  than  among  civilized  nations. — Whole  Indian 
tribes  have  been  deftroyed  by  it.  Indeed  they  glory 
in  their  fondnefs  for  ftrong  liquors,  and  eonfider  it 
as  a  part  of  their  character .  A  countryman  who  had 
dropt  from  his  cart  a  keg  of  rum,  rode  back  a  few 
miles  in  hopes  of  finding  it.  On  his  way  he  met  an 
Indian  who  lived  in  his  neighbourhood,  whom  h« 
afked  if  he  had  feen  his  keg  of  rum  on  the  road  ? 
The  Indian  laughed  in  his  face,  and  addrefled  him  ill 
the  following  words.  fC  What  a  fool  you  are  to  afle 
u  an  Indian  fuch  a  queftion.  Don’t  you  fee  I  am 
(c  fober  ?  Had  I  met  with  your  keg,  you  would 
Ci  have  found  it  empty  on  one  fide  of  the  road,  and 
*  Indian  Tom  drunk  and  afleep  on  the  other.” 

j 

4.  Gluttony  is  very  common  among  Indians. 
To  this  their  long  abftinence,  produced  by  their  idle- 
nefs,  naturally  tempts  them. — It  is  very  common  to 
fee  them  flretch  themfelves  on  the  ground  after  a  full 
meal,  and  grunt  there  for  feveral  hours  till  they  reco¬ 
ver  from  the  efFefts  of  their  intemperance.  Mr. 
Bartram  tells  us,  that  they  fometimes  rife  in  the  middle 
of  the  night,  in  order  to  gratify  their  appetites  for 
•ating. 


aacULIAR  to  tnb  Indians. 


*59 


5.  Treachery  is  another  Indian  vice.  Who  ever 
trufted  to  an  Indian  treaty  ? — They  generally  begin 
their  wars,  with  profeflions  of  peace  and  perpetual 
friendfhip. 

<>.  The  cruelty  of  Indians  is  well  known.  They 
confider  companion  as  a  mark  of  effeminacy.  Their 
treatment  of  their  prisoners,  fhews  them  to  poffcfs  a 

i 

fpirit  of  revenge,  which  places  them  upon  a  footing 
with  infernal  fpirits. 

I  t  .  ► 

7.  Idleness  is  the  univerfal  vice  of  favages.— ^ 
They  are  not  only  too  lazy  to  work,  but  even  to 
think.  Nothing  but  the  powerful  ftimuius  of  hunger^ 
or  revenge,  is  fufficient  to  roufe  them  into  adlion. 

8.  Theft  is  an  Indian  vice.  The  Indians  not 

M  ,  * 

only  fteal  from  their  civilized  neighbours,  but  from 
each  other.  A  horfe — a  gun  — or  fpirits,  have  charms 
in  the  eyes  of  an  Indian  that  no  reftraints  can  prevent 
his  Healing,  whenever  they  come  in  his  way. 

*  ' .  . 

9.  Gaming  belongs  m  an  eminent  degree  to  the 
Catalogue  of  Indian  vices. 

10.  But  the  infamy  of  the  Indian  chara&er  is 
completed  by  the  jow  rank  to  which  they  degrade 
their  women.  It  is  well  known  that  their  women 
perform  all  their  work.  They  not  only  prepare  their 
victuals,  but  plant,  hoc ,  and  gather  their  corn  and 
roots.  They  are  feldom  admitted  to  their  feafts,  or 
fiiare  in  their  conversion.  The  men  oblige  them 


l6o  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  VICES 

to  lie  at  their  feet,  when  they  fleep  without  fire  ;  and 
it  their  backs  when  they  fleep  before  a  fire.  They 
afford  them  no  afliftance  in  the  toils  of  tending,  feed¬ 
ing,  and  carrying  their  children.  They  are  even  in- 
fenfible  of  the  dangers  to  which  their  women  are  often 
expofed  in  travelling  with  them.  A  gentleman  from 
Northumberland  county,  informed  me,  that  he  once 
faw  a  body  of  Indian  men  and  women  wading  acrofs 
the  river  Sufquehannah.  The  men  arrived  firft  on 
the  oppofite  fhore,  and  purfued  their  journey  along  the 
river.  The  women,  fome  of  whom  had  children  on 
their  backs,  upon  coming  to  a  deep  and  rapid  current, 
fuddenly  cried  out  for  help,  and  made  figns  to  their 
hufbands  and  fathers  to  come  to  their  afliftance. 
The  men  flood  for  a  few  minutes — and  after  atten¬ 
tively  furveying  their  diftrefs,  burfted  out  a  laughing, 
and  then  with  a  merry  indifference,  walked  from  them 
•\Iong  the  fhore. 

This  I-  a  fhort  nomenclature!  of  the  vices  of  the  In¬ 
dians  of  No.-]*  America.  If  it  wre  neceflary,  I  would 
quote  the  ch  pters  and  pages  of  the  authors  who  have 
cftablifhed  by  their  obfervations,  the  truth  of  the  cha¬ 
racter  I  have  given  oi  them.  1  not  difpofed  to 
enter  into  an  examination  of  their  virtues,  but  I  can¬ 
not  help  fuppefing  them  to  be  rather  the  qualities  cf 
mcejfity ,  than  the  offspring  of  feeling,  or  principle. 
Their  hcfpitality — their  friendihips- — their  patience 

and  their  fidelity  to  engagements,  are  the  effects  of 
aecefiity,  and  are  as  effential  to  their  exiftence,  a$ 


PECULIAR  TO  THE  INDIANS.  *6* 

honefty  is  to  a  band  of  aflociatcd  robbers.  Their  po- 
litenefs  in  never  contradicting  any  perfon-,  I  believe 
is  the  effect  of  indolence,  for  I  know  of  nothing 
that  lazy  people  diflike  more  than  to  difpute,  even 
where  truth  is  on  their  fide,  or  where  victory  is 
certain. — Where  is  the  man  that  in  a  lazy  fit  (to  which 
all  men  at  times  are  fubjeCt)  has  not  heard  falfe  and 
abfurd  opinions  advanced  in  company,  without  con¬ 
tradicting  them  ? 

The  taciturnity  of  the  Indians  which  has  been  fo 
much  celebrated,  as  a  mark  of  their  wifdom,  is  the 
effect  of  their  want  of  ideas.  Except  in  cafes  of 
extraordinary  pride,  I  believe  taciturnity,  in  nine 
cafes  out  of  ten  in  civilized  company,  is  the  effect 

of  flupidity.  I  will  make  one  more  exception  to  this 

»  \ 

rule,  and  that  is  in  favour  of  thofe  people  who  are 
in  the  habits  of  communicating  their  thoughts,  by 
writing  for  the  public,  or  by  correfponding  with 
their  friends.  Ideas,  whether  acquired  from  books, 
or  by  reflection,  produce  a  plethora  in  the  mind, 
which  can  only  be  relieved  by  depletion  from  the  pen, 

r~  I 

or  tongue. 

But  what  (hall  we  fay  to  the  encomiums  that  have 
been  lavifhed  upon  the  love  of  liberty  which  cha¬ 
racterizes  our  favage  neighbours  ? — Why — that  they 
ariie  from  an  ignorance  of  the  influence  of  property, 
upon  the  human  mind. — Property,  and  a  regard  for 
law,  are  born  together  in  all  focietics.  The  paffion 


2(5*  AM  ACCOUNT  ©¥  ffHE  VICES,  &€. 

for  liberty  in  an  Indian,  is  as  different  from  the 
pafTion  for  it  in  a  civilized  republican,  as  the  impurity 
of  Juft,  is  from  the  delicacy  of  love  There  is  a 
certain  medium  to  be  obferved  between  an  affection 
for  law,  and  for  liberty.  An  excefs  of  the  former 
has  fometimes  led  to  tyranny,  while  an  excefs  of 
the  latter,  leads  to  idlenefs  and  vice.  The  Athenians 
appear  to  have  been  intoxicated  with  an  excefs  of 
liberty  when  they  fpent  their  whole  time  in  hearing 
and  telling  news.  There  is  always  an  excefs  of  law 
or  liberty  in  a  community  where  poor  men  are 
idle,  or  where  vices  of  any  kind  are  fuft'ered  with 
impunity. 

The  only  reflettioias  that  I  (hall  add  upon  this 
fubjeft,  (hall  be, — how  great  are  the  blefTings  of 
civil  government  which  extirpates,  reftrains,  orpunifhes 
the  vices  that  have  been  mentioned  !  and  how  great 
is  the  efficacy  of  chriftianity,  which,  by  purifying  the 
heart,  renders  the  practice  of  the  contrary  virtues 
natural  and  agreeable  ? 


Observations  upon  the  influence  of  the  habi¬ 
tual  use  of  Tobacco  upon  health,  Morals* 

AND  PROPERTY. 


WERE  it  pollible  for  a  being  who  had  rc- 
fided  upon  our  globe,  to  vifit  the 
inhabitants  of  a  planet,  where  reafon  governed,  and 
to  tell  them  that  a  vile  weed  was  in  general  ufe 
among  the  inhabitants  of  the  globe  it  had  left,  which 
afforded  no  nourifhment — that  this  weed  was  culti¬ 
vated  with  immenfe  care — that  it  was  an  important 
article  of  commerce — that  the  want  of  it  produced 
real  mifery — that  its  tafte  was  extremely  naufeous, 
that  it  was  unfriendly  to  health  and  morals,  and  that 
its  ufe  was  attended  with  a  confiderablc  lofs  of  time  and 
property,  the  account  would  be  thought  incredible, 
and  the  author  of  it  would  probably  be  excluded 
from  fociety,  for  relating  a  {lory  of  fo  improbable  a 
nature.  In  no  one  view,  is  it  poflible  to  contemplate 
the  creature  man  in  a  more  abfurd  and  ridiculous  light, 

than  in  his  attachment  to  Tobacco. 

# 

This  weed  is  of  a  Simulating  nature,  whether  it 
be  tifed  in  fmoaking,  chewing  or  m  fnufF.  Like  Opium 
and  fpirituous  liquors,  it  is  fought  for  in  all  thofe  cafes 
where  the  body  is  debilitated  indirectly  by  intemperance 
in  eating,  or  by  cxcefllve  application  to  ft  tidy,  or 
buffnefs,  ©r  dire  My  by  fedative  pafTions  of  the  mind. 


26q 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  TK2 


particularly  by  grief  and  fear.  Ferfcns  after  lofing 
relations  or  friends  by  death,  often  refort  to  it.  One 
of  the  greatefl  fnufFers  I  ever  knew,  ufed  it  for  the 
firit  time,  in  order  to  confole  her  under  a  prefcrtiment 
(lie  entertained,  that  {he  fhould  die  in  childbed. 

Fear  creates  a  defire  for  Tobacco.  Hence  it  is 

s"\ 

ufed  in  a  greater  quantity  by  foldiers  and  fa i lor s  than 
by  other  claffes  of  people.  It  is  ufed  mofi:  prcfufe- 
ly  by  foldiers  when  they  act  as  picket  guards,  or  centi- 
ncls,  and  by  failcrs  in  ftormy  weather.  Perfons 
labouring  under  that  ftate  of  madnefs  which  is  ac¬ 
companied  with  a  fenfe  of  mifery,  are  much  devoted  to 
it,  hence  the  tenants  of  mad-houfes  often  accoft  their 
attendants  and  viators,  with  petitions  for  Tobacco. 

The  progrefs  of  habit  in  the  ufe  of  Tobacco  is 
exadtly  the  fame  as  in  the  ufe  of  fpirituous'  liquors. 
The  flaves  of  it  begin,  by  ufing  it  only  after  dinner — 
then  during  the  whole  afternoon,  and  evening,  after¬ 
wards  before  dinner,  then  before  breahfaft,  and  fi¬ 
nally  during  the  whole  night.  I  knew  a  Lady  who 
had  palled  through  all  thefe  flages,  who  ufed  to 
wake  regularly  two  or  three  times  every  night  to 
compofe  her  fyflem  with  frefin  dofes  of  fnufr.  Again 
— the  progrefs  in  the  decay  of  the  fenfibility  of  the 
nefe  to  the  famulus  of  fnufF  is  analogous  to  the  decay 
of  the  fenfibility  of  the  ftomach,  to.  the  famulus  of 
fpirituous  liquors.  It  feels  for  a  while  the  a£lion  cf 
Rappee  next  it  requires  Scotch  fnuff,  afterwards 
Irifh-blackguard — and  finally  it  is  affected  only  by 


% 


/ 


USE  OF  TOBACCO. 


compofition  of  Tobacco  and  ground  glafs.  This  mix¬ 
ture  is  to  the  nofe,  what  Cayenne  pepper  and  Jamaica 
fpirits  are  to  the  ftomachs  of  habitual  dram  drink¬ 


ers. 


The  appetite  for  Tobacco  is  wholly  artificial.  No 
perfon  was  ever  born  with  a  reiifh  for  it.  Even  in 
thofe  perfons  who  are  much  attached  to  it,  nature  fre¬ 
quently  recovers  her  difrelifh  to  it.  It  ceafes  to  be 
agreeable  in  every  febrile  indifpofition.  This  is  fo 
invariably  true,  that  a  difrelifh  to  it  is  often  a  fign 
of  an  approaching,  and  a  return  of  the  appetite  for 
it,  a  fign  ol  a  departing  fever. 


In  confidering  the  pernicious  effects  of  Tobacco, 
I  {hall  begin  agreeably  to  the  order  I  have  laid  down, 
by  taking  notice  of  its  influence  upon  health  ;  and 
here  I  fhall  mention  its  effedts  not  only  upon  the  body, 
but  upon  the  mind. 


1 .  It  impairs  the  appetite.  Where  it  does  not  pro¬ 
duce  this  effect, 

2.  It  prevents  the  early  and  complete  digeftion  of 
the  food,  and  thereby  induces  diftreffmg,  and  incu¬ 
rable  difeafes  not  only  of  the  ftomach,  but  of  the 
whole  body.  This  effect  of  Tobacco  is  the  refult  of 
the  wafte  of  the  faliva  in  chewing,  and  fmoking,  or  of 
the  Tobacco  infinuating  itfelf  into  the  ftomach,  when 

ufed  in  chewing,  or  fnuffing. - 1  once  loft  a  young 

man  of  17  years  of  age,  of  a  pulmonary  confump- 

Mm  * 


166 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE 


tiori,  whofe  diforder  was  brought  on  by  the  intempe¬ 
rate  ufe  of  fegars. 

3.  It  produces  many  of  thofe  difeafes  which  are 
fuppofed  to  be  feated  in  the  nerves.  The  late  Sir 
John  Pringle  was  fubjetl  in  the  evening  of  his 
life  to  tremors  in  his  hands.  In  hislaft  vifit  to  France, 
a  few  years  before  he  died,  in  company  with  Dr. 
Franklin,  he  was  requefted  by  the  Dottor  to  obferve, 

1 

■  that  the  fame  diforder  was  very  common  among  thofe 
people  of  fafhion  who  were  great  fnuffers.  Sir  John 
was  led  by  this  remark  to  fufpect  that  his  tremors 
were  occafioned  by  fnuff  which  he  took  in  large 
quantities.  He  immediately  left  off  taking  it,  and 
foon  afterwards  recovered  the  perfect  ufe  of  his  hands. 
I  have  feen  head-ache,  vertigo,  and  epilepfy  produced 
by  the  ufe  of  Tobacco.  A  Phyfician  in  Connecticut 
has  remarked  that  it  has  in  feveral  initances  produced 
palfy  and  apoplexy,  and  Dr.  Tiffot  aferibes  fudden 
death  in  one  inftance,  to  the  exceffive  ufe  of  it 
in  fmoking. 

4.  A  citizen  of  Philadelphia  loft  all  his  teeth  by 
drawing  the  hot  fmoke  of  Pobacco  into  his  moutn 
by  means  of  Ihort  pipe,  and  I  have  been  informed 
of  a  cancer  on  the  lip  which  terminated  fatally  from 
the  fame  caufe,  in  a  farmer  in  Northumberland  coun¬ 
ty  in  this  ftate.  The  acrid  nature  of  the  matter  which 
is  mixed  with  the  fmoke  of  the  Tobacco  may  eafiiy 
be  difeovered  by  the  tafte  or  fmell  of  a  pipe  ftem 
that  has  been  in  ufe  for  two  or  three  weeks. 


USE  OF  TOBACCO.  2im] 

5.  Tobacco  when  ufed  in  the  form  of  fnuff  feldom 
fails  of  impairing  the  voice  by  obflru6ting  the  nofe. 
It  moreover  imparts  to  the  complexion  a  difagreeablc 
du&y  colour. 

I  have  thus  briefly  enumerated  the  morbid  efFe£ls 
of  Tobacco  upon  the  human  body.  It  remains  un¬ 
der  this  head  to  mention,  that  the  want  of  it  is  at 
fource  of  uneafinefs  more  diftrefling  than  many  bodily 
diforders.  This  uneafinefs  in  perfons  who  have  long 
been  accuftomed  to  the  ufe  of  Tobacco  has  in  fome 
Inftances  produced  an  agitation  of  mind  that  ha$ 
bordered  upon  diftra&ion.  Colonel  Burr  informed 
me  that  the  greateft  complaints  of  diflatisfa&ion  and 
fuffering  that  he  heard  among  the  foldiers  who  accom¬ 
panied  General  Arnold  in  his  march  from  Bofton  to 
Quebec  through  the  wildernefs  in  the  year  1 7 7> > 
were  from  the  want  of  Tobacco.  This  was  the  more 
remarkable,  as  they  were  fo  deftitute  of  provifions  as 
to  be  obliged  to  kill,  and  eat  their  dogs.  The  Per- 
fians,  we  are  told  by  travellers,  often  expatriate  them- 
felves,  when  they  are  forbidden  the  ufe  of  Tobacco,  in 
order  to  enjoy  it  in  a  foreign  country.  Thefe  fa£ts 
will  not  furprize  thofe  perfons  who  have  been  accuf- 
tomed  to  view  our  appetites  when  perverted  to  fuch 
tilings  as  are  artificial  and  difagreeable,  to  be  much 
more  ungovernable  than  the  appetite  for  things  that 
are  originally  natural  and  agreeable. 


»~4  « 


*6  S 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE 


?  But  the  ufe  of  Tobacco  has  been  known  to  produce 
a  more  ferious  effedt  upon  the  mind  than  the  diftrefs 
that  has  been  mentioned.  Sir  john  Pringle’s  memory 
was  impaired  by  muff.  This  was  proved  by  his  re¬ 
covering  the  perfect  exercife  of  it  after  he  left  off  tak¬ 
ing  fnufF  agreeably  to  the  advice  of  his  friend  Dr. 
Franklin.  Dr.  M  a  hi  lac  informed  me  that  his  father 
loft  his  memory  at  forty  years  of  age  by  the  exceffive 
ufe  of  fnufF.  He  took  for  feveral  years  two  ounces  of 
it  every  day. 

i 

In  anfwer  to  thefe  obfervations  upon  the  morbid 
efFedts  of  Tobacco  it  has  been  faid, 

1.  That  it  poffefTes  many  medical  virtues.  I  grant 
it,  and  the  fadts  which  eftablifh  its  utility  in  medicine 
furnifh  us  with  additional  arguments  againft  the 
habitual  ufe  of  it.  How  feeble  would  be  the  effedts 
of  opium,  and  bark  upon  the  body  if  they  conftitu- 

ted  a  part  of  the  condiments  of  our  daily  food  ;  — 

/ 

While  I  admit  the  efficacy  of  Tobacco  as  a  medicine, 
I  cannot  help  adding,  that  fome  of  the  difeafes,  or 
fymptcms  of  difeafes  which  it  relieves,  are  evidently 
induced  by  the  habit  of  ufing  it.  Thus  a  dram  of 
ardent  fpirits  fufpends,  for  a  while,  a  vomiting  and 
tremors  of  the  hands,  but  who  docs  not  know  that 
thole  complaints,  are  the  effedts  of  the  intemperate 
and  habitual  ufe  of  fpirituous  liquors  ? 

t 

2.  The  advocates  for  Tobacco,  tell  us  that  fmok- 
ng,  and  fnufF  relieve  that  uneafinefs  which  fucceedi 


USE  OF  TOBACCO. 


269 


a  plentiful  meal.  I  admit  that  the  ftimulars  of  the 
Tobacco  reftores  the  fyftem  from  the  indirect  weak- 
nefs  which  is  induced  by  intemperance  in  eating,  but 
the  relief  which  is  thus  obtained,  illy  compenfates 
for  the  wafte  of  the  faliva  in  fmoking,  at  a  time  when 

it  is  mod  wanted,  or  for  the  mixture  of  a  portion  of 
the  Tobacco  with  the  aliment  in  the  ftomach  by 
means  of  fnuffing.  But  why  fhould  we  cure  one 
evil  by  producing  another  ?  would  it  not  be  much  better 
to  obviate  the  neceffity  of  ufing  Tobacco  by  always  eat¬ 
ing  a  moderate  meal  ?  The  recollection  of  the  remedy 
probably  difpofes  to  that  intemperance  in  eating  which 
produces  the  uneafinefs  that  has  been  mentioned. 

1 

3.  We  are  fometimes  told  that  Tobacco  is  a  pre- 
fervative  from  contagious  difeafes.  But  many  faCts 
contradict  this  affertion.  Mr.  Howard  informs  us 
that  it  had  no  efficacy  in  checking  the  contagion  of 
the  plague,  and  repeated  experience  in  Philadelphia 
has  proved,  that  it  is  equally  ineffectual  in  preferv- 
ing  thofe  who  ufe  it,  from  the  Influenza  and  Yellow 
Fever. 

4.  It  has  been  further  faid  that  chewing  and  fmok¬ 
ing  Tobacco  affift  the  intellectual  operations.  So  do 
wine,  and  diftilled  fphits,  but  fhall  we  upon  that 
account,  have  recourfe  to  thofe  liquors  when  we  wifli 
to  ftimulate  our  thinking  faculties  ?  Tea  and  Coffee 
are  to  be  preferred,  when  we  wifh  to  ftimulate  the 
mind.  Mr.  Pope  recommends  a  trotting  horfe  for  the 
fame  purpofe.  Rouffcau  excited  his  invention  by 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE 


walking  backwards  and  forwards  in  Ins  room.  I 
fufpeft  that  Tobacco  is  often  mfed,  rather  to  fupply 
the  cwant  of  ideas  than  to  collect)  or  excite  them.  The 
abfence  of  fenfation,  whether  of  external  imprelli- 
ons  upon  the  body,  or  of  the  re-a£lion  of  the  mind 
in  thought,  is  always  accompanied  with  mifery.  The 
Indians  afford  a  ftriking  proof  of  this  remark— hence 
they  fpend  whole  days  and  even  weeks  in  fmoking, 
in  order  to  relieve  themfelves  from  the  anguifh  which 
attends  the  inactivity  and  vacuum  of  their  minds. 


We  proceed  next  to  mention  the  influence  of  the 
habitual  ufe  of  Tobacco  upon  morals. 

1.  One  of  the  ufual  effects  of  fmoking  and 
chewing  is  third:.  This  third  cannot  be  allayed  by 
water,  for  no  fedative  or  even  infipid  liquor  will 
be  rel iflied  after  the  mouth  and  throat  have  been 
expofed  to  the  ftimulus  of  the  fmoke,  or  juice  of 
Tobacco.  A  defire  of  courfe  is  excited  for  flrong 
drinks,  and  tliefe  when  taken  between  meals  foon 
lead  to  intemperance  and  dru  nkennefs.  One  of  the 
greateft  fots  I  ever  knew,  acquired  a  love  for  ardent 
fpirits  by  fw allowing  cuds  of  Tobacco,  which  he 
did,  to  efcape  detection  in  the  ufe  of  it,  for  he  had 
contracted  the  habit  of  chewing,  contrary  to  the 
advice  and  commands  of  his  father.  He  died  of  a 
Dropfy  under  my  care  in  the  year  i/8o. 

2.  The  ufe  of  Tobacco,  more  efpecially  in  fmok- 

i 

ing,  difpofes  to  idlcnefs,  and  idlenefs  has  been  con- 


USE  OF  TOBACCO. 


273 


Odered  as  the  root  of  all  evil.  “  An  idle  man’s  brain, 
«  (fays  the  celebrated  and  original  Mr.  Bunyan) 
«  is  the  Devil’s  work  fhop.” 

3.  The  life  of  Tobacco  is  neceflarily  conie&ed 
with  the  neglecl  of  cleanlinefs.  The  influence  of 
this  neglect  upon  morals  has  been  happily  pointed  out 
in  an  extract  from  captain  Cooke’s  journal,  which  is 
published  by  Sir  John  Pringle  in  one  of  his  Orations 
before  the  Royal  Society  of  London. 

4.  Tobacco,  more  efpecially  when  ufed  in  fmoking, 
is  generally  ojfenfive  to  thofe  people  who  do  not 
ufe  it.  To  fmoke  in  company  under  fuch  circum- 
ftances,  is  a  breach  of  good  manners  *,  now,  man* 
ners  have  an  influence  upon  morals.  They  may  be 
confidered  as  the  out  polls  of  virtue.  A  habit  of 
offending  the  fenfes  of  friends  or  Grangers  by  the  ufe 
of  Tobacco,  cannot  therefore  be  indulged  with  iuno- 
cence.  It  produces  a  want  of  refpecl  for  our  fellow- 
creatures,  and  this  always  difpofes  to  unkind  and 
unjuft  behaviour  towards  them.  Whoever  knew  a 
rude  man  completely,  or  uniformly  moral  ? 

The  methodifts  forbad  the  ufe  of  Tobacco  In  the 
infancy  of  their  fociety.  The  prohibition  difeovered  a 
high  and  juft  fenfe  of  the  felf-denial,  decency,  and 
univerfal  civility  which  are  required  by  the  gofpel. 
What  reception  may  we  fuppofe  would  the  apoflles 
have  met  with,  had  they  carried  into  the  cities  and 
houfes  to  which  they  were  fent,  fnu If- boxes,  pipes. 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE 


172 

fegars,  and  bundles  of  cut,  or  rolls  of  hog,  or  pigtail 
Tobacco  ?  Such  a  codly  and  offenfive  apparatus  for 
gratifying  their  appetites,  would  have  furnifhed  folid 
objections  to  their  perfons  and  do&rines,  and  would 
have  been  a  juft  caufe  for  the  clamors  and  contempt 
which  were  excited  againft  them.  It  is  agreeable  to  ob- 
ferve  that  a  regard  to  good  manners,  upon  this  fubjedl, 
has  at  lad  awakened  in  fome  parts  of  the  world.  In 
England  fmoking  is  not  permitted  in  taverns  and 
coffee  houfes  until  after  10  o’clock  at  night,  and 
in  France  fnuffing  is  becoming  unfafhionable  and 
vulgar.  How  much  is  it  to  be  lamented  that  while 
the  ufe  of  Tobacco  is  declining  in  two  of  the  moft 
enliglitned  countries  in  Europe,  it  is  becoming  more 
general  in  America.  Who  can  fee  groups  of  boys  of 
fix  or  eight  years  old  in  our  ftreets  fmoking  fegars, 
without  anticipating  fuch  a  depreciation  of  our  pof- 
terity  in  health  and  character,  as  can  fcarcely  be 
contemplated  at  this  didance  of  time  without  pain 
and  horror ! 

It  remains  now  that  I  briefly  point  cut  the  influ¬ 
ence  of  the  ufe  of  Tobacco  upon  time  and  property. 
Snuffing  makes  a  great  inroad  upon  time.  A  man 
who  takes  a  pinch  of  fnuff  every  twenty  minutes, 
(which  mod  habitual  fnuffers  do)  and  fnuffs  fifteen 

A  * 

hours  in  four  and  twenty,  (allowing  him  to  confume 
not  quite  half  a  minute  every  time  he  ufes  his  box,) 
will  wade  about  five  whole  days  of  every  year  of  his 
life  in  this  ufelefs,  and  unwholefome  pradlice.  But 


USE  OF  TOBACCO.  273 

when  we  add  to  the  profitable  ufe  to  winch  this  time 
might  have  been  applied,  the  expenfes  of  Tobacco, 

pipes,  fnuff  and  fpitting  boxes — -and  of  the  injuries 

% 

which  are  done  to  the  cloathing,  during  a  whole  life, 
the  aggregate  fum  would  probably  amount  to  feveral 
hundred  dollars.  To  a  labouriug  man  this  would  be  a 
decent  portion  for  a  fon  or  daughter,  while  the  fame 
fum,  faved  by  a  man  in  affluent  circumdances,  would 
have  enabled  him  by  a  contribution  to  a  public 
charity  to  have  leffened  a  large  portion  of  the  igno¬ 
rance,  or  mifery  of  mankind. 

* 

m 

In  reviewing  the  account  that  has  been  given  of 
the  difagreeable  and  mifehievous  effects  of  Tobacco, 
we  are  led  to  enquire,  what  are  its  ufes  upon  our 
globe, — for  we  are  allured  that  nothing,  exiils  in  vain. 
Poifon  is  a  relative  term,  and  the  mod  noxious 
plants  have  been  difeovered  to  afford  fultenance  to 
certain  animals.  But  what  animal  befides  man,  will 
take  Tobacco  into  its  mouth  ?  Horfes,  Cows,  Sheep, 
Cats,  Dogs,  and  even  hogs  refufe  to  tade  it.  Flies, 
Molquitoes,  and  the  moth  are  chafed  from  our  cloaths 
by  the  fmell  of  it.  But  let  us  not  arraign  the  wifdom 
and  ceconomy  of  nature  in  the  production  of  this 
plant.  Modern  Travellers  have  at  lad  difeovered  that 
it  conftitutes  the  food  of  a  folitary  and  filthy  wild 
bead,  well  known  in  the  defarts  of  Africa,  by  the 
name  of  the  rock  goat. 

Nn 

I  V 


I 


X 


174  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  USE  OF  TOBACCO. 

/ 

I  fhall  conclude  thefe  obfervations  by  relating  an 
Anecdote  of  the  late  Dr.  Franklin.  A  few  months 
before  his  death,  he  declared  to  one  of  his  friends  that 
.he  had  never  ufed  Tobacco  in  any  way  in  the  courfc 
of  his  long  life,  and  that  he  was  difpofed  to  believe 
there  was  not  much  advantage  to  be  derived  from  it, 
for  that  he  had  never  met  with  a  man  who  ufed  it, 
who  advifed  him  to  follow  his  example. 


i 

I  ►  i 


I 

* 


/ 


I 


An  account  of  the  Sugar  maple-tree  of  the 
United  States.  In  a  letter  to  1  iiomas  Jeffer¬ 
son,  Esq_  then  secretary  of  State  of  the 
United  States,  andone  of  ice  pres  idents  of 
the  American  Philosophical  society. 


Dear  Sir, 

N  obedience  to  your  requeft,  I  have  fat  down 
to  communicate  to  our  Society  through  the 
medium  of  ?  letter  to  you,  a  fhort  account  of  the 
Sugar  Maple-iree  of  the  United  States,  together  with 
fuch  fa£ts  and  remarks  as  I  have  been  able  to  collect, 
upon  the  methods  of  obtaining  Sugar  from  it,  and 
upon  the  advantages  both  public  and  private,  of  this 

The  Acer  Sacharinum  of  Linnseus,  or  the  Sugar  Ma¬ 
ple-tree,  grows  in  great  quantities  in  the  weftern 
counties  of  all  the  Middle  States  of  the  American 
Union.  Thofc  which  grow  in  New-York  and  Penn- 
fylvania  yield  the  Sugar  in  a  greater  quantity  than 
thofe  which  grow  on  the  waters  of  the  Ohio.— 
Thefe  trees  are  generally  found  mixed  with  the  Beech, 
(a)  Hemlock,  (b)  White  and  water  Afh,  (c)  the 
Cucumber  tree,  (d)  Linden,  (e)  Afpen,  (f)  Butter  Nut, 
(g)  and  Wild  Cherry  trees  T)  They  fometimes 
appear  in  groves  covering  five  or  fix  acres  in  a  body, 

(a)  Fagus  Ferruginea.  (b)  Pinus  abies.  (c)  Fraxinus  Ame¬ 
ricana.  (d)  Magnolia  acuminata.  (e)  Tilia  Americana.  (f)  Po- 
p ulus  tremula.  (g)  Juglans-alba  (oblonga.)  (h)  Prunus  Virginian*, * 
of  Linnaeus: 


» 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF 


27  6 

but  they  are  more  commonly  interfperfed  with  fome, 
or  all  of  the  foreft  trees  which  have  been  mentioned. 
From  30  to  50  trees  are  generally  found  upon  an  acre 
of  ground.  They  grow  only  in  the  richeft  foils 
and  frequently  in  flony  ground.  Springs  of  the 
pureft  water  abound  in  their  neighbourhood.  They 
are  when  fully  grown  as  tall  as  the  white  and  black 
oaks,  and  from  two  to  three  feet  in  diameter.*  They 
put  forth  a  beautiful  white  blofTom  in  the  Spring 
before  they  fhow  a  fingle  leaf.  The  colour  of  the 
blofom  diftinguifhes  them  from  the  acer  rubrum,  or 
the  common  maple,  which  affords  a  bloffom  of  a  red 
colour.  The  wood  of  the  Sugar  Maple-tree  is  ex- 
tremely  inflammable,  and  is  preferred  upon  that  account 
by  hunters  and  furveyors  for  fire-wood.  Its  fmall 
branches  are  fo  much  impregnated  with  fugar  as  to 
afford  fupport  to  the  cattle,  horfes,  and  flieep  of  the 
firft  fettlers  during  the  winter,  before  they  are  able  to 
cultivate  forage  for  that  purpofe.  Its  allies  afford  a 
great  quantity  of  pot  afh,  exceeded  by  few,  or  perhaps 
by  none  of  the  trees  that  grow  in  the  woods  of  the 
United  States. 

The  tree  is  fuppofed  to  arrive  at  its  full  growth  in 
the  woods  in  twenty  years. 

*  Baron  La  Hontan,  in  his  voyage  to  North  America,  gives  the  follow¬ 
ing  account  of  the  Maple-trcc  in  Canada.  After  deferibing  the  black 
Cherry-tree,  fome  of  which  he  fays  are  as  tall  as  the  loitieft  oaks,  and 
ac  big  as  a  hogfhe ’.d,  he  adds,  The  Maple-tree  is  much  oi  the  fame 

“  height  and  bulk.  It  bears  no  refembiance  to  that  fort  we  have 

/•  . 

Europe.’' 


I 


THE  SUGAR  MAPLE-TREE  '  277 

It  is  not  injured  by  tapping  ;  on  the  contrary,  the 
oftner  it  is  tapped,  the  more  fyrup  is  obtained  from 
it.  In  this  refpe£l  it  follows  a  law  of  animal  fecre- 
tion.  A  fingle  tree  has  not  only  furvived,  but  flourifh- 
ed  after  forty-two  tappings  in  the  fame  number  of 
years.  The  effects  of  a  yearly  difeharge  of  fap  from 
the  tree  in  improving  and  increafmg  the  fap,  is  demon- 
ftrated  from  the  fuperior  excellence  of  thofe  trees 
which  have  been  perforated  in  an  hundred  places,  by 
a  fmall  wood-pecker  which  feeds  upon  the  fap.  The 
trees  after  having  been  wounded  in  this  way,  diftii 
the  remains  of  their  juice  on  the  ground,  and  after¬ 
wards  acquire  a  black  colour.  The  fap  of  thefe  trees 
is  much  fweeter  to  the  tafle  than  that  which  is  obtain¬ 
ed  from  trees  which  have  not  been  previoufly  wound¬ 
ed,  and  it  affords  more  lugar. 

From  twenty-three  gallons  and  one  quart  of  fap  pro* 
cured  in  twenty  hours  from  only  two  of  thefe  dark 
coloured  trees,  Arthur  Noble,  Efq.  of  the  ftate  of 
New-York,  obtained  four  pounds  and  thirteen  ounces 
of  good  grained  fugar. 

A  tree  of  an  ordinary  fize  yields  in  a  good  feafon 

* 

from  twenty  to  thirty  gallons  of  fap,  from  which  are 
made  from  five  to  fix  pounds  of  fugar.  'To  this  there 
are  fometimes  remarkable  exceptions.  Samuel  Low, 
Efq.  a  Juftice  of  Peace  in  Montgomery  county,  in 
the  flats  ofvNew-York,  informed  Arthur  Noble,  Eiq. 
that  he  had  made  twenty  pounds  and  one  ounce  of 


/ 


AN  ACCOUNT  0? 


-*•»  £  Vx 

\  % 
s  • 

fugar  between  the  14th  and  23d  of  April,  in  the 
year  $78^,  from  a  fingle  tree  that  had  been  tapped 
far  fever al  fuccefftve  vears  before. 

i 

Freni  the  influence  which  culture  has  upon  foreft 
and  other  trees,  it  has  been  fuppofed,  that  by  tranf- 
~plantmg  the  Sugar  Maple  tree  into  a  garden,  or  by 
ddSroying  fuch  other  trees  as  fhelter  it  from  the 
rays  of  the  Sun,  the  quantity  of  the  fap  might  he 
iscreafed  \  and  its  quality  much  improved.  I  have 
Iseurd  of  one  fact  which  favours  this  opinion.  A 
farmer  in  Northampton  county  in  the  irate  of  Penn- 
fySvania*  planted  a  number  of  thefe  trees  above  twenty 
years  ago  in  his  meadow,  from  three  gallons  of  the 
fep  of  which  he  obtains  ever'?  year  a  pound  of  fugar. 
It  was  remarked  formerly  ths  t  it  required  five  or  fix 
gallons  of  the  fap  of  the  trees  which  grow  i»  the 
woods,  to  produce  the  fame  quantity  of  fugar. 


The  fap  diftiis  from  the  wood  of  the  tree.  Trees 
which  have  been  cut  down  in  the  winter  for  the 
fupport  cf  the  domedic  animals  of  the  new  fettlers, 
yield  a  confiderable  quantity  of  fap  as  foon  as  their 
trunks  and  limbs  feel  the  rays  of  the  Sun  in  the 
fpring  of  the  year. 


Jt  is  in  confequence  of  the  fap  of  thefe  trees  being 
equally  dlffufed  through  every  part  of  them,  that 
they  live  three  years  after  they  are  girdled,  that  is,  after 
a  circular  incilion  is  made  through  the  bark  into  the 
fubftance  of  the  tree  for  the  purpofc  of  de  droving  it. 


THE  SUGAR  MAPLE-TREE. 


*79 


It  is  remarkable  that  grafs  thrives  better  imdcr 
this  tree  in  a  meadow,  than  in  fituutions  expofed  to 
the  conflant  action  of  the  Sun. 

The  feafon  for  tapping  the  trees  is  in  February, 
March,  and  April,  according  to  the  weather  whim 
occurs  in  thefe  months. 

IVarm  days  and  frtfty  nights  are  mod  favourable 
to  a  plentiful  difeharge  of  hap.*  The  quantity  obtain¬ 
ed  in  a  day  from  a  tree,  is  from  five  gallons  to  2.  pint, 
according  to  the  greater  or  lefs  heat  of  the  air.  ’  Mr* 
Low,  informed  Arthur  Nobie;  Efq.  that  be  obtained 
near  three  and  twenty  gallons  of  fap  in  one  day 
(April  14,  1739.)  from  the  fingle  tree  which  was 
before  mentioned.  Such  inltances  of  a  profusion  of 
fap  in  fingle  trees  are  however  not  very  common* 

There  is  always  a  fufpenfion  of  the  difeharge  of 
of  fap  in  the  night  if  a  fro  ft  fuccecd  a  warm  day. 
The  perforation  in  the  tree  is  made  with  an  axe  or  an 
auger.  The  latter  is  preferred  from  experience  of  its 
advantages.  The  auger  is  introduced  about  three-quar¬ 
ters  of  an  inch,  and  in  an  afeending  direction  (that  the 

0 

*  The  influence  of  :he  weather  in  increafingand  kffening  the  dlfctarge 
ci  the  Tp  from  trees  is  very  remarkable. 

Dr.  Tongue  fuppefed  long  ago  (Philofophical  Tranfa&ions,  No.  6S) 
that  cliangcs  in  the  weather  of  every  kind  might  be  better  ufccrtaiaeJ 
by  the  difeharges  of  fap  from  trees  than  by  weather  s.  £ 

have  feen  a  journal  of  the  effedhs  of  heat,  cold,  moi.flurc,  dioucht 
and  thunder  upon  the  difeharges  from  the  fjgar  trees,  which  cifpofc* 
me  to  believe  that  there  is  fome  found  ition  for  Dr.  Tongue’s  o^inior. 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF 


28o 

« 

fap  may  not  be  frozen  in  a  flow  current  in  the  mor¬ 
nings  or  evenings)  and  is  afterwards  deepened  gradu- 

% 

ally  to  the  extent  of  two  inches.  A  fpout  is  intro¬ 
duced  about  half  an  inch  into  the  hole,  made  by  this 
auger,  and  projects  from  three  to  twelve  inches  from 
the  tree.  The  fpout  is  generally  made  of  the  Sumach 
(a)  or  Elder,  (b)  \\rhich  commonly  grow  in  the  neigh¬ 
bourhood  of  the  fugar  trees.  The  tree  is  firft  tapped 
on  the  South  fide ;  when  the  difcharge  of  its  fap 
begins  to  leiTen,  an  opening  is  made  on  its  North 
fide,  from  which  an  increafed  difcharge  takes  place. 
The  fap  flows  from  four  to  fix  weeks,  according  to 
ths  temperature  of  the  weather.  Troughs  large  enough 
to  contain  three  or  four  gallons  made  of  white  pine, 

or  white  afh,  or  of  dried  water  afli,  afpen,  linden, 
* 

poplar,  (c)  or  common  maple,  are  placed  under  the 
fpout,  to  receive  the  fap,  which  is  carried  every  day 
to  a  large  receiver,  made  of  either  of  the  trees  before 
mentioned.  From  this  receiver  it  is  conveyed,  after 
being  {trained,  to  the  boiler, 

To  preferve  the  fap  from  rain  and  impurities  of 
all  kinds,  it  is  a  good  practice  to  cover  the''  troughs 
with  a  concave  board,  with  a  hole  in  the  middle 
of  it. 

It  remains  yet  to  be  determined  whether  fome  arti¬ 
ficial  heat  may  be  applied  fo  as  to  increafe  the  quantity 

(b)  Sambucus  canadenfts.  (c)  Lirioaendron  Tullpifera. 


la'j  Rhus. 


THE  SUGAR  MAPLE-TREE. 


28l 


•  I 

afid  improve  the  quality  of  the  fap.  Mr.  Noble  in¬ 
formed  me,  that  he  faw  a  tree,  under  which  a  farmer 
had  accidently  burnt  fome  brufh,  which  dropped  a 
a  thick  heavy  fyrup  refembling  molafles.  This  fa£t 
may  probably  lead  to  fomething  ufeful  hereafter. 

During  the  remaining  part  of  the  fpring  months, 
as  alio  in  the  Summer,  and  in  the  beginning  of  Au¬ 
tumn,  the  maple  tree  yields  a  thin  fap,  but  not  fit 
for  the  manufactory  of  fugar.  It  affords  a  pleafant 
drink  in  harveft,  and  has  been  ufed  inftead  of  rum, 
in  fome  inftances  by  tliofe  farmers  in  Connecticut, 
whofe  anceftors  have  left  to  them  here,  and  there,  st 
fugar  maple  tree,  (probably  to  fhade  their  cattle,)  in 
all  their  fields.  Mr.  Bruce  defcribes  a  drink  of  the 
fame  kind,  prepared  by  the  inhabitants  of  Egypt,  by 
infufing  the  fugar  cane  in  water,  which  he  declares 
to  be  “  the  molt  refrefhing  drink  in  the  world.”* 

*  Baron  La  Hontan,  gives  the  following  account  of  the  fap  of  the 
fugar  maple-tree,  when  ufed  as  a  drink,  and  of  the  manner  of  obtaining 
it.  “The  tree  yields  a  fap  which  has  a  much  pleafanter  tafte  than 
the  bed  lemonade  or  cherry  water,  and  makes  the  wholefomeft  drink 
in  the  world.  This  liquor  is  drawn  by  cutting  the  tree  two  inches  deep 
in  the  wood,  the  cut  being  made  Hoping  to  the  length  of  tenor  twelve 
inches  j  at  the  lower  end  of  this  gafn,  a  knife  is  thru  it  into  the  tree  Hoping]  y, 
fo  that  the  water  runs  along  the  cut  or  gafh,  as  through  a  gutter  and  falls 
upon  the  knife,  which  has  fome  veflels  placed  underneath  to  receive  it. 
Some  trees  will  yield  five  or  Hx  bottles  of  this  water  in  a  day,  and  fome 
inhabitants  or  Canada  might  draw  twenty  hogflieads  of  it  in  one  day, 
if  they  would  thus  cut  and  notch  all  the  maple  bees  of  their  refpec- 
tive  plantations.  The  gaih  does  r.o  barm  to  the  tree.  Of  this  fap  they 
make  fugar  and  fyrup  which  is  fo  valuable  that  there  can  be  no  better 

Oo 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF 


tit 

There  are  three  methods  of  reducing  the  fap  t# 
fugar. 

1 .  By  freezing  it  \  this  method  has  been  tried  for 
many  years,  by  Mr.  Obediah  Scott,  a  farmer  in 
Luzerne  county  in  this  Hate,  with  great  fuccefs.  He 
fays  that  one  half  of  a  given  quantity  of  fap  re¬ 
duced  in  this  way,  is  better  than  one-third  of  the 
fame  quantity  reduced  by  boiling.  If  the  froft  fhould 
not  be  intenfe  enough,  to  reduce  the  fap  to  the 
graining  point,  it  may  afterwards  be  expofed  to  the 
adlion  of  the  fire  for  that  purpofe. 

2.  By  fpontaneous  evaporation .  The  hollow  flump 
of  a  maple-fugar  tree,  which  had  been  cut  down  in 
the  fpring,  and  which  was  found  fometime  after¬ 
wards  filled  with  fugar,  firfl  fuggefted  this  method  of 
obtaining  fugar  to  our  farmers.  So  many  circum- 
ftances  of  cold  and  dry  weather,  large  and  flat  veflels, 
and  above  ail  fo  much  time  are  neceflary  to  obtain 
fugar,  by  either  of  the  above  methods,  that  the  mofl 
general  method  among  our  farmers  is  to  obtain  it, 

3.  By  lolling .  For  this  purpofe  the  following  fadls 
which  have  been  afcertained  by  many  experiments, 
deferve  attention. 

1.  The  fooner  the  fap  is  boiled,  after  it  is  colledl- 

•  V 

ed  from  the  tree,  the  better.  It  fhould  never  be  kept 

remedy  for  fortifying  the  ftomach.  ’Tis  but  few  of  the  inhabiants 
that  have  the  patience  to  make  them,  for  as  common  things  arc 
flighted,  fo  there  are  fcarce  any  body  but  children  that  give  themfelves 
he  trouble  of  gafliing  thefe  trees.1” 


THE  SUGAR  MAPLE-TREE.  283 

jonger  than  twenty  four  hours,  before  it  is  put  over  the 
fire. 

2.  The  larger  the  veflel  in  which  the  fap  is  boiled, 
the  more  fugar  is  obtained  from  it. 

3.  A  copper  veflel  affords  a  fugar  of  a  fairer 
colour  than  an  iron  veflel. 

I 

The  fap  flows  into  wooden  troughs  from  which  it 
is  carried  and  poured  into  (lone  troughs  or  large 
cifterns  in  the  fhape  of  a  canoe  or  large  manger  made 
of  white  afh,  linden,  bafs  wood,  or  white  pine,  from 
which  it  is  conveyed  to  the  kettle  in  which  it  is  to 
be  boiled.  Thefe  ciilerns,  as  well  as  the  kettle,  are 
generally  covered  by  a  fired  to  defend  the  fap  from 
the  rain.  The  fugar  is  improved  by  {training  the  fap 
through  a  blanket  or  cloth,  either  before  or  after  it  is 
half  boiled.  Butter,  hogs  lard,  or  tallow  are  added  to 
the  fap  in  the  kettle  to  prevent  its  boiling  over,  and 
hme,  eggs  or  new-milk  are  mixed  with  it  in  order 
to  clarify  it.  I  have  Teen  clear  fugar  made  without 
the  addition  of  either  of  them.  A  fpoonful  of  flack 
lime,  the  white  of  one  egg,  and  a  pint  of  new-milk 
are  the  ufual  proportions  of  thefe  articles  which  ar<3 
mixed  with  fifteen  gallons  of  fap.  In  fome  famples 
which  I  have  lately  feen  of  maple-fugar  clarified  with 
each  of  the  above  articles,  that,  in  which  milk  alone 
was  ufed,  had  an  evident  fuperiority  over  the  others, 
in  point  of  colour. 

The  fugar  after  being  fufficiently  boiled,  is  grained 
and  clayed 7  and  afterwards  refned}  or  converted  into 


284 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF 


ioar  fugar.  The  methods  of  conducting  each  of  thefe 
proceffes  is  fo  nearly  the  fame  with  thofe  which  are 
ufed  in  the  manufactory  of  Wed-India  fugar,  and 
are  fo  generally  known,  that  I  need  not  fpend  any 
time  in  defcribing  them. 


It  has  been  a  fubjeCt  of  enquiry  whether  the  ma¬ 
ple  fugar  might  not  be  improved  in  its  quality  and 
increafed  in  its  quantity  by  the  eftabliihment  of 
boiling  houfes  in  the  fugar  maple  country  to  be  con-, 
duCted  by  officiated  labor.  From  the  fcattered  fitu- 
ation  of  the  trees,  the  difficulty  of  carrying  the  fap 
to  a  great  didance,  and  from  the  many  expenfes 
which  muft  accrue  from  fupporting  labourers  and 
liorfes  in  the  woods  in  a  feafon  of  the  year  in  which 

nature  affords  no  fudenance  to  man  or  bead  I  am 

/ 

difpofed  to  believe  that  the  mod  productive  method 
both  in  quantity  and  profit  of  obtaining  this  fugar 
will  be  by  the  labor  of  private  families.  For  a  great 
number  of  years  many  hundred  private  families  in 
New-Yorkand  Fennfylvania  have  fupplied  themfelves 
plentifully  with  this  fugar  during  the  whole  year. 
I  have  heard  of  many  families  who  have  made  from 
two  to  four  hundred  pounds  in  a  year  ;  ?nd  of  one 
man  who  fold  fix  hundred  pounds,  all  made  with  his 
Own  hands  in  one  feafon.* 


*  The  following  receipts  fuhlijhed  by  William  Cooper ,  ffp  tn  the  Albany 
Ga%ette9  fully  e^allijhes  this  faff. 

<(  Received,  Cooper’s  Town,  April  30th,  179c,  cf  William  Cooper, 
lixteen  pounds,  for  fix  hundred  and  forty  pounds  of  fugar  made  with  my 


THE  SUGAR  MAPLE-TREE. 


235 


1 

Not  more  knowledge  is  neceffary  for  making  thi* 
fugar  than  is  required  to  make  foap,  cyder,  beer, 
four-crout,  &c.  and  yet  one  or  all  of  thefe  are  made 
in  moft  of  the  farm  houfes  of  the  United  States. 
The  kettles  and  other  utenfils  of  a  farmer’s  kitchen* 
will  ferve  moft  of  the  purpofes  of  making  lugar,  and 
the  time  required  for  the  labor,  (if  it  deferves  that 
name)  is  at  a  feafon  when  it  is  impoflible  for  the 
farmer  to  employ  himfelf  in  any  fpecies  of  agricul¬ 
ture.  His  wife  and  all  his  children  above  ten  years 
of  age,  moreover  may  aflifh  him  in  this  bufinefs, 
for  the  profit  of  the  weakefl  of  them  is  nearly  equal 
to  that  of  a  man,  when  hired  for  that  purpofe. 

A  comparative  view  of  this  fugar  has  been  fre¬ 
quently  made  with  the  fugar  which  is  obtained  from 

the  Weft  India  fugar  cane,  with  refpedf  to  its 

• 

quality ,  price ,  and  the  poftible  -  or  probable  quantity  that 
can  be  made  of  it  in  the  United  States,  each  of  which 
I  {hall  confider  in  order. 

1.  The  quality  of  this  fugar  is  neceffarily  better 
than  that  which  is  made  in  the  Weft-Indies.  It  is 
prepared  in  a  feafon  when  not  a  fingle  infedl  exifts 
to  feed  upon  it,  or  to  mix  its  excretions  with  it,  and 

•ion  hands ,  without  any  aftiftancein  lefsthanfour  weeks,  befidea attend¬ 
ing  to  the  other  bufinefs  of  my  farm,  as  providing  fire  wood,  taking  care  of 
the  cattle,  &r.  John  Nicholls.  Witnefs  R.  Smith. 

A  fingle  family,  confiding  of  a  man  and  his  two  Tons,  on  the  maple 
fugar  lands  between  the  Delaware  and  Sufijuehannah  made  iSoolb.  of 
maple  fugar  in  one  feafon.  : 


/ 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF 


286 


before  a  particle  of  dud  or  of  the  pollen  of  plants 
can  float  in  the  air.  The  fame  obfervation  cannot 
be  applied  to  the  Weft-India  fugar.  The  infects  and 
worms  which  prey  upon  it,  and  of  courfe  mix  with 
it,  eompofe  a  page  in  a  nomenclature  of  natural  hiitory. 
I  fhall  fay  nothing  of  the  hands  which  are  employed 
in  mating  fugar  in  the  Weft-Indies  but,  that  men 
who  work  for  the  exclufive  benefit  of  others,  are  n#t 
under  the  fame  obligations  to  keep  their  perfons  clean 
while  they  are  employed  in  this  work,  that  men 
womsn  and  children  are,  who  work  exciu lively  for 
the  benefit  of  themfdves ,  and  who  have  been  educated 
in  the  habits  of  cleanlinefs.  The  fuperior  purity  of 
the  maple  fugar  is  farther  proved  by  its  leaving 
a  lefs  fedi ment  when  diflblved  in  water,  than  the 
Weft-India  fugar. 

It  has  been  fuppofed  that  the  maple  fugar  is  inferi¬ 
or  to  the  Weft-India  fugar  i wjlrength.  The  experi¬ 
ments  which  led  to  this  opinion,  I  fufpect  have  been  in¬ 
accurate,  or  have  been  made  with  maple  fugar,  pre¬ 
pared  in  a  flovenly  manner.  I  have  examined  equal 
quantities,  by  weight,  of  both  the  grained  and  the 
louf  fugar,  in  hyfon  tea,  and  in  coffee,  made  in  eve¬ 
ry  refpeft  equal  by  the  minuteft  circumftances  that 
could  affect  the  quality  or  tafte  of  each  of  them, 
and  could  perceive  no  inferiority  in  the  ftrength  of  the 
maple  fugar.  The  liquors  which  decided  this 
tion  were  examined  at  the  fame  time,  by  Alexander 
Hamilton,  Efq.  Secretary  of  the  Treafury  of  the 


THE  SUGAR  MAPLE-TEES*  267 

United  States,  Mr.  Henry  Drinker,  and  feveral  Ladies, 
who  all  concurred  in  the  above  ©pinion. 

2.  Whoever  confiders  that  the  gift  of  the  fugar 
maple  trees  is  from  a  benevolent  Providence,  that 
we  have  many  millions  of  acres  in  our  country  co¬ 
vered  with  them,  that  the  tree  is  improved  by  repeat¬ 
ed  tappings,  and  that  the  fugar  is  obtained  by  the  fru¬ 
gal  labor  of  a  farmer’s  family,  and  at  the  fame  time 
confiders  the  labor  of  cultivating  the  fugar  cane,  the 
the  capitals  funk  in  fugar  works*  the  firft  coft  of 
flaves  and  cattle,  the  expenfes  of  provifions  for  both 
of  them,  and  in  fome  inftances  the  additional  ex- 
penfe  of  conveying  the  fugar  to  a  market,  in  all  the 
Weft-India  Iflands,  will  not  hefitate  in  believing 
that  the  maple  fugar  may  be  manufactured  much 
cheaper,  and  fold  at  a  lefs  price  than  that  which  is 
made  in  the  Well-Indies. 

3.  'The  refources  for  making  a  fufficient  quantity 
of  this  fugar  not  only  for  the  confumption  of  the 
United  States,  but  for  exportation,  will  appear  from 
the  following  faCls.  There  are  in  the  ftates  of 
New- York,  and  Pennfylvania  alone  at  leaft  ten  milli¬ 
ons  of  acres  ofland,  which  produce  the  fugar  maple- 
tree,  in  the  proportion  of  thirty  trees  to  one  acre. 
Now,  fuppofing  all  the  perfons  capable  of  labor  in  a 
family  to  con  lli  of  three,  and  each  perfon  to  attend 
150  trees  and  each  tree  to  yield  jibs,  of  fugar  in  a 
feafon,  the  produCl  of  the  labor  of  60,000  families 


288 


AN  ACCOUNT  OI' 


I 


would  be  135,000,00®  pounds  of  fugar,  and  allowing 
the  inhabitants  of  the  United  States  to  compofe 
6©o,ooo  families,  each  of  which  confumed  zoq  pounds 
of  fugar  in  a  year,  the  whole  confu motion  would  be 
120,000,000  pounds  in  a  year,  which  would  leave  a 
balance  of  i  5  ,000,000  pounds  for  exportation.  Va¬ 
luing  the  fugar  at  6-90  of  a  dollar  per  pound,  the 
fum  faved  to  the  United  States  would  be  8,000,000 
dollars  by  home  confumption,  and  the  fum  gained  by 
exportation  would  be  1,000,000  dollars.  The  only 
part  of  this  calculation  that  will  appear  improbable 
is,  the  number  of  families  fuppoied  to  be  employed 
in  the  manufactory  of  the  fugar,  but  the  difficulty  of 
admitting  this  fuppofiticn  will  vaniih  when  we  confi- 
der,  that  double  that  number  of  families  are  employed 
every  year,  in  making  cyder,  the  trouble,  rifks  and 
expenfes  of  which  are  all  much  greater  than  thofe 
of  making  maple-fugar. 

But  the  profit  of  the  maple  tree  is  not  confined  to 
its  fugar.  It  affords  a  mofl  agreeable  molaflcs,  and 
an  excellent  vinegar.  The  fap  which  is  fuitable  for 
thefe  purpofes  is  obtained  after  the  fap  which  affords 
the  fugar  has  ceafed  to  flow,  fo  that  the  manufacto¬ 
ries  of  thefe  different  products  of  the  maple  tree,  by 
fucccedivg ,  do  not  interfere  with  each  other.  The 
molaflcs  may  be  made  to  compofe  the  bafis  of  a  plea- 
fant  fummer  beer.  The  fap  of  the  maple  is  more¬ 
over  capable  of  affording  a  fpirit,  but  we  hope  this 

* 

precious  juice  will  never  be  proftitued  by  our  citi- 


THE  SUGAR  MAPLE-TREE. 


289 


Zens  to  this  ignoble  purpofe.  Should  the  ufc  of  fugar 
in  diet  become  more  general  in  our  country,  it  may 
tend  to  leffen  the  inclination  or  fuppofed  neceflity  for 
fpirits,  for  I  have  obferved  a  relifh  for  fugar  in  diet 
to  be  feldom  accompanied  by  a  love  for  ftrong  drink. 
It  is  the  fugar  which  is  mixed  with  tea  which  makes 
it  fo  generally  difagreeable  to  drunkards.  But  a  diet, 
confiding  of  a  plentiful  mixture  of  fugar  ha3  other 
advantages  to  recommend  it,  which  I  fhali  briefly  enu¬ 
merate. 

1.  Sugar  affords  the  greatefl:  quantity  of  nourifli- 
ment  in  a  given  quantity  of  matter  of  any  fubftanoe 
in  nature  *,  of  courfe  it  may  be  prefer ved  in  lefs  room 
in  our  houfes,  and  may  be  confumed  in  lefs  time, 
than  more  bulky  and  lefs  nourifhing  aliment.  It  has 
this  peculiar  advantage  over  moll  kinds  of  aliment, 
that  it  is  not  liable  to  have  its  nutritious  qualities 
affected  by  time  or  the  weather,  hence  it  is  preferred 
by  the  Indians  in  their  excurfions  from  home.  They 
mix  a  certain  quantity  of  Maple  fugar,  with  an  equal 
quantity  of  Indian  corn,  dried  and  powdered,  in  its 
milky  ftate.  This  mixture  is  packed  in  little  bafkets, 
which  are  frequently  wetted  in  travelling,  without 
injuring  the  fugar.  A  few  fpoons  full  of  it  mixed 
with  half  a  pint  of  fpring  water,  afford  them  a  plea- 
fant  and  flrengthening  meal.  From  the  degrees  of 
ftrength  and  nourifliment,  which  are  conveyed  into 
animal  bodies  by  a  fmall  bulk  of  fugar,  I  conceive  it 
might  be  given  to  horfes  with  great  advantage,  when 

p  P 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF 


29CK 

they  are  ufed  in  circumftances  which  make  it  difficult 
or  expenfive  to  fupport  them,  with  more  bulky  or 
weighty  aliment.  A  pound  of  fugar  with  grafs  or 
hay,  I  have  been  told,  has  fupported  the  ftrength  and 
fpirits  of  an  horfe,  during  a  whole  day’s  labour  in  one 
of  the  Weft-India  Iflands.  A  larger  quantity  given 
alone,  has  fattened  horfes  and  cattle  during  the  war 
before  laft  in  Hifpaniola,  for  a  period  of  feveral 
months,  in  which  the  exportation  of  fugar^  and  the 
importation  of  grain,  were  prevented  by  the  want  of 
(hips. 

a.  The  plentiful  ufe  of  fugar  in  diet,  is  one  of  the 
bell  preventives  that  has  ever  been  difcovered  of  the 
difeafes  which  are  produced  by  worms.  The  Author 
of  Nature  feems  to  have  implanted  a  love  for  this  ali¬ 
ment  in  all  children,  as  if  it  were  on  purpofe  to  defend 

« 

them  from  thofe  difeafes.  I  know'  a  gentleman  in 
Philadelphia,  who  early  adopted  this  opinion,  and 
who  by  indulging  a  large  family  of  children,  in  the 
ufe  of  fugar,  has  preferved  them  all  from  the  difeafes 
mfually  occafioned  by  worms. 

*  % 

3.  Sir  John  Pringle  has  remarked,  that  the  plague 
has  never  been  known  in  any  country  where  fugar 
compofes  a  material  part  of  the  diet  of  the  inhabitants. 
I  think  it  probable,  that  the  frequency  of  malignant 
fevers  of  all  kinds  has  been  leffened  by  this  diet,  and 
that  its  more  general  ufe  would  defend  that  clafs  of 
people,  who  are  molt  fubje£t  to  malignant  fevers, 
from  being  fo  often  affected  by  them. 


THE  SUGAR  MAPLE-TREE. 


29I 


4.  In  the  numerous  and  frequent  diforders  of  the 
breaft,  which  occur  in  all  countries,  where  the  body  is 
expofed  to  a  variable  temperature  of  weather,  fugar 
affords  the  bafis  of  many  agreeable  remedies.  It  is 
ufeful  in  weakneffes,  and  acrid  defluxions  upon  other 
parts  of  the  body.  Many  facts  might  be  adduced  in 
favor  of  this  affertion.  I  fhall  mention  only  one, 
which  from  the  venerable  name  of  the  perfon,  whofe 
cafe  furniflied  it,  cannot  fail  of  commanding  atten¬ 
tion  and  credit.  Upon  my  enquiring  of  Dr.  Frank¬ 
lin,  at  the  requeft  of  a  friend,  about  a  year  before  he 
died,  whether  he  had  found  any  relief  from  the  pain 
of  the  {tone,  from  the  Blackberry  Jam,  of  which  he 
took  large  quantities,  he  told  me  that  he  had,  but 
that  he  believed  the  medicinal  part  of  the  jam, 
refided  wholly  in  the  fugar,  and  as  a  reafon  for  think¬ 
ing  fo,  he  added,  that  he  often  found  the  fame  relief, 
by  taking  about  half  a  pint  of  a  fyrup,  prepared  by 
boiling  a  little  brown  fugar  in  water,  juft  before  he 
went  to  bed,  that  he  did  from  a  dofe  of  opium.  It 
has  been  fuppofed  by  fome  of  the  early  phyficians  of 
our  country,  that  the  fugar  obtained  from  the  maple 
tree,  is  more  medicinal,  than  that  obtained  from  the 
Weft-India  fugar  cane,  but  this  opinion  I  believe  is 
without  foundation.  It  is  preferable  in  its  qualities  to 
the  Weft-India  fugar  only  from  its  fuperior  cleanli - 
nefs.  . 

Cafes  may  occur  in  which  fugar  may  be  required 
in  medicine,  or  in  diet,  by  perfons  who  refufe  to  be 


I 


292  AN  ACCOUNT  OF 

benefited,  even  indirectly  by  the  labour  of  flaves.  In 
fuch  cafes,  the  innocent  maple  fugar  will  always  be  pre¬ 
ferred*. 

*  *  * 

It  has  been  faid,  that  fugar  injures  the  teeth,  but 

this  opinion  now  has  fo  few  advocates,  that  it  does 

not  deferve  a  ferious  refutation. 

• .  ■  *  * 

To  tranfmit  to  future  generations,  all  the  advan¬ 
tages  which  have  been  enumerated  from  the  maple 
tree,  it  will  be  necefiary  to  protect  it  by  law,  or  by 
a  bounty  upon  the  maple  fugar,  from  being  deftroyed 
by  the  fettlers  in  the  maple  country,  or  to  tranfplant 
it  from  the  woods,  and  cultivate  it  in  the  old  and 
improved  parts  of  the  United  States.  An  orchard 
confiding  of  200  trees,  planted  upon  a  common  farm 
would  yield  more  than  the  fame  number  of  apple  trees, 
at  a  diftance  from  a  market  town.  A  full  grown 
tree  in  the  woods  yields  five  pounds  of  fugar  a  year.  If 
a  greater  expofure  of  a  tree  to  the  aClion  of  the  fun, 
has  jthe  fame  effects  upon  the  maple,  that  it  has  upon 
other  trees,  a  larger  quantity  oi  fugar  might  reafonably 
be  expected  from  each  tree  planted  in  an  orchard. 
Allowing  it  to  be  only  feven  pounds,  then  200  trees 
will  yield  1400  pounds  of  fugar,  and  deducting  200 
from  the  quantity,  for  the  confumption  of  the  family, 

*  Dr.  Knowles,  a  phyfician  of  worthy  charadter  in  London,  had  occafion 
to  recommend  a  diet  to  a  patient,  of  which  fugar  compofed  a  material  part. 

1 

His  patient  refufed  to  fubmit  to  his  preferiptior,  and  gave  as  a  reafon  for 
it,  that  he  had  witnefled  fo  much  of  the  oppreffion  and  cruelty  which 
were  exerciied  ucon  the  flaves,  whorrade  the  lugar,  that  he  had  made  a 
vow  never  to  tafte  the  rodudt  ©f  their  mifery  as  long  as  he  lived 


/ 


THE  SUGAR  MaPLE-TREE. 


293 


there  will  remain  for  fale  1200  pounds  which  at 
6-90  of  a  dollar  per  pound  will  yield  an  annual  profit 
to  the  farmer  of  So  dollars.  But  if  it  fliould  be 
found  that  the  {hade  of  the  maple  does  not  check  the 
growth  of  grain  any  more  than  it  does  of  grafs,  double 
or  treble  that  number  of  maple  trees  may  be  plant¬ 
ed  on  every  farm,  and  a  profit  proportioned  to  the 
above  calculation  be  derived  from  them.  Should  this 
mode  of  tranfplanting  the  means  of  obtaining  fugar 
be  fuccefsful,  it  will  not  be  a  new  one.  The  fugar 
cane  of  the  Weft-Indies,  was  brought  originally  from 
the  EaftTndies,  by  the  Portuguefe,  and  cultivated  at 
Madeira,  from  whence  it  was  tranfplanted  diredtly  or 
indirectly,  to  all  the  fugar  Iilands  of  the  Weft-Indies. 

It  were  to  be  wifhcd,  that  the  fettlers  upon  the  fu¬ 
gar  maple  lands,  would  fpare  the  fugar  tree  in  clearing 

their  lands,  Qn  a  farm  of  200  acres  of  land,  accor- 

‘'1'.  •  .  •' 

ding  to  our  former  calculation,  there  are  ufually 
6,000  maple  trees.  If  only  2,000  of  thofe  original 
and  ancient  inhabitants  of  the  woods,  were  fuffered 
to  remain,  and  each  tree  were  to  afford  only  five 
pounds  of  fugar,  the  annual  profit  of  fuch  a  farm  in 
fugar  alone,  at  the  price  formerly  mentioned,  would 
amount  to  666  dollars,  150  dollars  of  which  would 
probably  more  than  defray  all  the  expenfes  of  making 
it,  and  allow  a  plentiful  deduction  for  family  ufe. 

According  to  the  ufual  annual  profit  of  a  fugar  ma¬ 
ple  tree,  each  tree  is  worth  to  a  farmer,  two  dollars 
and  2-3  of  a  dollar  \  exclufive  therefore  of  the  value 


'*94  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  TSE  SUGAR.  MAPLE-TREE. 

lof  his  farm,  the  2,000  fugar  maple  trees  alone  confer  a 

value  upon  it  of  5,330  dollars  and  33-90  of  a  dollar* 

1  .  ^ 

It  is  faid,  that  the  fugar  trees  when  deprived  of  the 

{belter  and  fupport  they  derive  from  other  foreft  trees, 
are  liable  to  be  blown  down,  occafioned  by  their 
•  growing  in  a  rich,  and  of  courfe  a  loofe  foil.  To 
obviate  this,  it  will  only  be  neceffary  to  cut  off  fome 
of  their  branches,  fo  as  to  alter  its  center  of  gravity, 
and  to  allow  the  high  winds  to  have  an  eafy  paflage 
through  them.  Orchards  of  fugar  maple  trees,  which 
grow  with  an  original  expofure  of  all  their  parts  to 
the  a£licn  of  the  fun,  will  not  be  liable  to  this  in- 

*  t  s 

convenience. 

In  contemplating  the  prefent  opening  profpe&s  in 
human  affairs,  I  am  led  to  expedl  that  a  material  {hare 
of  the  happinefs,  which  Heaven  feems  to  have  prepa¬ 
red  for  a  part  of  mankind,  will  be  derived  from  the 
manufactory  and  general  ufe  of  maple  fugar,  for  the 
benefits  which  I  flatter  myfelf  are  to  refult  from  it* 
will  not  be  confined  to  our  own  country.  They  will, 
I  hope,  extend  themfelves  to  the  interefts  of  humanity 
*n  the  Weft-Indies.  With  this  view  of  the  fubject  of 
this  letter,  I  cannot  help  contemplating  a  fugar  ma¬ 
ple  tree  with  a  fpecies  of  affe6lion  and  even  veneration» 
for  I  have  perfuaded  myfelf,  to  behold  in  it  the  happy 
means  of  rendering  the  commerce  and  flavery  of  our 
African  brethren,  in  the  fugar  Ifiands  as  unneedfary* 
as  it  has  always  been  inhuman  and  unjuft. 

From,  dear  Sir,  your  fincere  friend, 
July  10th  1791.  BENJAMIN  RUSH. 


— - -^.giaay 

An  account  of  the  Lite  and  death  of  Edward 
Drinker,  who  died  on  the  17TH  of  November* 
1782,  IN  TH£  103  YEAR  OF  HIS  AGl. 


EDWARD  DRINKER  was  born  on  the 

24th  of  December,  1680,  in  a  fmall  cab- 

✓ 

bin,  near  the  prefent  corner  of  Wainut  and  Second- 

•  1  % 

ftreets,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  His  parents  came 
from  a  place  called  Beverly,  in  the  {late  Maflachufetts. 
The  banks  of  the  Delaware,  on  which  the  city  of 
Philadelphia  now  (lands,  were  inhabited,  at  the  time 
of  his  birth,  by  Indians,  and  a  few  Swedes  and  Hol¬ 
landers.  He  often  talked  to  his  companions  of  pick-* 
ing  whortle  berries  and  catching  rabbits,  on  fpots 
now  the  mod  improved  and  populous  in  the  city. 
He  recoliefted  the  fecond  time  William  Penn  came 
to  Pennfylvania,  and  ufed  to  point  to  the  place  where 

the  cabbin  flood,  in  which  he,  and  his  friends,  that 
'  .  . 

accompanied  him,  were  accommodated  upon  their  arri¬ 
val.  At  twelve  years  of  age,  he  went  to  Bolton, 
where  hefervedhis  apprenticefhip  to  a  cabinet  maker* 
In  the  year  1 745,  he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  with 
his  family,  where  he  lived  until  the  time  of  his  death* 
He  was  four  times  married,  and  had  eighteen  children, 
all  of  whom  were  by  his  firft  wife.  At  one  time  of  his 
life,  he  fat  down,  at  his  own  table,  with  fourteen 
children.  Not  long  before  his  death  he  heard  of  thcr 


£96  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  UF&  AND  DEATH 

birth  of  a  grand-child,  to  one  of  his  grand-children, 
the  fifth  in  fuccefiion  to  himfelf. 

*  ..  %  ,  1  .  s  *  .  •  Vi 

? 

He  retained  all  his  faculties  till  the  laft  year  of  Ins 
life.  Even  his  memory,  fo  early  and  fo  generally  dimini- 
ihed  by  age  was  but  little  impaired.  He  not  only 
remembered  the  incidents  of  his  childhood  and  youth*, 
-but  the  events  of  latter  years  ;  and  fo  faithful  was  his 
memory  to  him,  that  his  fon  has  informed  me  he  ne¬ 
ver  heard  him  tell  the  fame  (lory  twice,  but  to  different 
perfons,  and  in  different  companies.  His  eye-fight 

*  It  is  remarkable  that  the  incidents  of  childhood  and  youth  are  fel- 
dom  remembered  or  called  forth  until  old  age.  I  have  fometimes  been 
led,  from  this  and  other  circumftances,  to  fufped  that  nothing  is 
ever  loll  that  is  lodged  in  the  memory,  however  it  may  be  buried  for  a 
time  by  a  variety  of  caufes.  How  often  do  we  find  the  tranfadions  of 
early  life,  which  we  had  reason  to  fuppefe  were  loft  from  the  mind  for 
ever,  revived  in  our  memories  by  certain  accidental  fights  or  founds, 
particularly  by  certain  notes  or  airs  in  mufics.  I  have  known  a  young 
man  fpeak  French  fluently  when  drunk,  that  could  not  put  two  femenccs 
cf  that  language  together,  when  fober.  He  had  been  taught  it  perfectly, 
when  a  boy,  but  had  forgotten  it  from  difufe.  A  French  countefs  was 
nailed  by  a  Wehh  woman,  from  whom  fhe  learned  to  fpeak  her  language, 
which  fhe  foon  forgot,  after  file  had  acquired  the  French,  which  was  her 
mother  tongue.  In  the  delirium  of  a  fever,  many  years  afterwards,  f he 
was  heard  to  mutter  words  which  none  of  her  family  or.  attendants  under  - 
ftoed.  An  old  Welili  woman  came  to  fee  her,  who  foon  perceived  that 
the  founds  which  were  fo  unintelligible  to  the  family,  were  the  Welfti  lan¬ 
guage.  When  fhe  recovered,  foe  could  not  recoiled  a  finele  word  of 
tne  language,  fhe  had  fpoken  in  her  ficknefs.  I  cars  conceive  great 
advantages  may  be  derived  t rein  this  retentive  power  in  our  memories, 
m  tne  advancement  ot  the  m:nd  towards  perfedion  in  knowledge  (fo 
cflentiai  to  its  happmefs)  in  a  future  world. 


DEATH  OF  EDWARD  DRINKER.  297 

1  '  4  * 

failed  him,  many  years  before  his  death,  but  his  hearing 
was  uniformly  perfect  and  unimpaired.  His  appetite 
was  good  till  within  a  few  days  before  his  death.  He 
generally  ate  a  hearty  breakfaft  of  a  pint  of  tea  or 
coffee,  as  foon  as  he  got  out  of  his  bed,  with  bread 
and  butter  in  proportion.  He  ate  likewiie  at  eleven 
o’clock,  and  never  failed  to  eat  plentifully  at  dinner 
of  the  groffeft  folid  food.  He  drank  tea,  in  the  even¬ 
ing,  but  never  ate  any  fupper  :  he  had  loft  all  his  teeth 
thirty  years  before  his  death,  which  was  occafioned, 
his  fon  fays,  by  drawing  exceflive  hot  fmoke  of  tobacco 
into  his  mouth :  but  the  want  of  fuitable  maftication 
of  his  food,  did  not  prevent  its  fpeedy  digeftion,  nor 
impair  his  health.  Whether  the  gums,  hardened  by 

age,  fupplied  the  place  of  his  teeth  in  a  certain  degree, 

% 

or  whether  the  juices  of  the  mouth  and  ftomach  be¬ 
came  fo  much  more  acrid  by  time,  as  to  perform  the 
office  of  diffolving  the  food  more  fpeedily  and  more 
perfectly,  I  know  not,  but  I  have  often  obferved,  that 
old  people  are  moft  difpofed  to  exceffive  eating,  and 
that  they  fuffer  feweft  inconveniences  from  it.  He 
was  inquifitive  after  news  in  the  laft  years  of  his  life. 
His  education  did  not  lead  him  to  increafe  the  flock 
of  his  ideas  any  other  way.  But  it  is  a  fa£l  well 
worth  attending  to,  that  old  age,  inftead  of  diminifh- 
ing,  always  increafes  the  defire  of  knowledge.  It  muft 
afford  fome  confolation  to  thofe  who  expe£l  to  be  old, 
to  difcover,  that  the  infirmities  to  which  the  decays 
of  nature  cxpofe  the  human  body,  are  rendered  more 


2C)S  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  LIFE  AND 

tolerable  by  the  enjoyments  that  are  to  be  derived 
from  the  appetite  for  fenfual  and  intellectual  food. 

He  was  remarkably  fober  and  temperate.  Neither 
hard  labour,  nor  company,  nor  the  ufual  afflictions 
of  human  life,  nor  the  waftes  of  nature,  ever  led  him 
to  an  improper  or  exceffive  ufe  of  ftrong  drink.  For 
the  laft  twenty-five  years  of  his  life,  he  drank  twice 
every  day  of  toddy,  made  with  two  table  fpoonfuls 
of  fpirit,  in  half  a  pint  of  water.  His  fon,  a  man 
of  fifty-nine  years  of  age,  told  me  that  he  had  never 
feen  him  intoxicated.  The  time  and  manner  in 
which  he  ufed  fpirituous  liquors,  I  believe,  contri¬ 
buted  to  lighten  the  weight  of  his  years,  and  proba¬ 
bly  to  prolong  his  life.  “  Give  wine  to  him  that  is 
<(  of  a  heavy  heart,  and  ftrong  drink  to  him  that  is 
«  ready  to  perifli  with  age,  as  well  as  with  ficknefs* 

Let  him  drink  and  forget  his  forrow,  and  remember 
“  his  mifery  no  more.” 

He  enjoyed  an  uncommon  (hare  of  health,  infomuch 
that  in  the  courfe  of  his  long  life  he  never  was 
confined  more  than  three  days  to  his  bed.  He  often 
declared  that  he  had  no  idea  of  that  moft  diftrefiing 

9  , 

pain  called  the  head  ache.  His  deep  was  interrupted  a 
little  in  the  laft  years  of  his  life  with  a  defluxion 
on  his  breaft,  which  produced  what  is  commonly 
called  the  old  man’s  cough. 

4 

The  character  of  this  aged  citizen  was  not  fummed 
up  in  his  negative  quality  of  temperance  :  he  was  a 


DEATH  OF  EDWARD  DRINKER.  299 

man  of  the  molt  amiable  temper  :  old  age  had  not 
curdled  his  blood  ;  he  was  uniformly  chearful  and  kind 
to  every  body  ;  his  religious  principles  were  as  fteady 
as  his  morals  were  pure.  He  attended  public  worfhip 
about  thirty  years  in  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sproat’s  church, 
and  died  in  a  full  aflurance  of  a  happy  immortality. 
The  life  of  this  man  is  marked  with  feveral  circum- 
ftances,  which  perhaps  have  feldom  occured  in  the  life 

of  an  individual  events.  He  faw  and  heard  more  of 

•  * 

thofe  events  which  are  meafured  by  time,  than  have 
ever  been  feen  or  heard  by  any  mane  fince  the  ageof  the 
patriarchs  ;  he  faw  the  fame  fpot  of  earth,  which 
at  one  period  of  his  life,  was  covered  with  wood  and 
bulhes,  and  the  receptacle  of  beafts  and  birds  of  prey, 
afterwards  become  the  feat  of  a  city  not  only  the  firft: 
in  wealth  and  arts  in  the  new,  but  rivalling  in  both, 
many  of  the  firft  cities  in  the  old  world.  He  faw 
regular  ftreets  where  he  once  purfued  a  hare  :  he 
faw  churches  riling  upon  moialTes,  where  he  had 
often  heard  the  croaking  of  frogs  ;  he  fiw  wharfs  and 
warehoufes,  where  he  had  often  feen  Indian  favages 
draw  lifh  from  the  river  for  their  daily  fubfiftence  ; 
and  he  faw  fhips  of  every  fize  and  ufe  in  thofe  ftreams, 
where  he  had  often  feen  nothing  but  Indian  canoes  $ 
he  faw  a  {lately  edifice  filled  with  legiflators,  aftonifh- 
ing  the  world  with  their  wifdom  and  virtue,  on  the 
fame  fpot,  probably,  where  he  had  feen  an  Indian 
council  fire ;  he  faw  the  firft  treaty  ratified  between 
the  newly  confederated  powers  of  America  and  the 


300 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  LIFE,  &C. 


ancient  monarchy  of  France,  with  all  the  formalities 
of  parchment  and  feals,  on  the  fame  fpot,  probably, 
where  he  once  faw  William  Penn  ratify  his  firft  and 
laft  treaty  with  the  Indians,  without  the  formality 

t 

of  pen,  ink  or  paper*  he  faw  all  the  intermediate 
ftages  through  which  a  people  pafs,  from  the  moll 
fimple  to  the  higheft  degrees  of  civilization.  He  faw 
the  beginning  and  end  of  the  empire  of  Great-Britain, 
in  Pennfylvania.  He  had  been  the  fubjecl  of  feveri 
fuccefiive  crowned  heads,  and  afterwards  became  a 
willing  citizen  of  a  republic  *  for  he  embraced  the  li¬ 
berties  and  independence  of  America  in  his  withered 
arms,  and  triumphed  in  the  laft  years  of  his  life  in  the 
falvation  of  his  country. 


i 


Remarkable  c ircumstances  inthe  constitution 

AND  LIFE  OF  ANN  WOODS,  AN  OLD  WOMAN  OF  96 
YEA^-S  OF  AGE. 


IN  the  fummer  of  the  year  1738,  while  I  was 
engaged  in  collecting  the  fa£ts  upon  the 
fubje£t  of  old  age,  which  I  have  fince  publifhed,*  a 
poor  woman  came  to  my  houfe  to  beg  for  cold  vic¬ 
tuals.  Perceiving  by  her  countenance,  and  the  ftoop 
in  her  walk,  that  (he  was  very  old,  I  requefted  her 

4 

to  fit  down  by  me,  while  I  recorded  the  following 
information,  which  I  received  from  her,  and  which 
was  confirmed  to  me  a  few  days  afterwards,  by  one 
of  her  daughters  with  whom  flie  lived.  Her  '  name 
was  Ann  Woods.  Her  age  at  that  time  was  9 5.  She 
was  born  in  Herefordfliire,  in  England,  and  came  ro 
this  city  when  {he  was  but  ten  years  old,  where  fhe 
had  lived  ever  fince.  She  had  been  twice  married. 
By  her  firft  hufband  Wm.  Dickfon,  {he  had  nine  chil¬ 
dren,  four  of  whom  were  then  living.  By  her  fecond 
hufband  Jofeph  Woods,  whom  (lie  married  after  fhe 
was  fixty  years  old,  {he  had  one  child,  born  within 
ten  months  after  her  marriage.  There  were  inter¬ 
vals  of  two  and  nearly  three  years  between  each  of 
her  children.  Three  died  foon  after 'weaning  them 
at  the  ufual  age  in  which  children  are  taken  from 

*  Medical  Enquiries  and  Obfervations.  vol.  2. 


3°^  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  LIFE  AND 

the  bread.  This  led  her  to  fuckle  her  other  children 
during  the  whole  time  of  her  pregnancy,  and  in 
feveral  inftances,  lhe  fuckled  two  of  them,  born  in 
fuccefiion  to  each  other,  at  the  fame  time.  One  of 
her  children  by  her  firft  hufband,  fucked  until  it  was 
five  years  old.  Her  menfes  appeared  between  her 

nineteenth  and  twentieth  years  and  continued  with- 

« 

out  any  intermifiion,  except  during  her  pregnancy  and 
eleven  months  after  the  birth  of  each  of  her  children, 
until  (he  was  eighty  years  of  age.  At  the  time  I 
faw  her,  (he  heard  tolerably  well,  but  her  fight  was 
loft  in  one  eye,  and  was  weak  in  the  other.  She  loft 
all  her  teeth  when  {lie  was  between  fifty  and  fixty 
years  of  age.  Her  hair  became  grey  when  fhe  was 
between  forty  and  fifty.  Her  deep  was  not  found, 
owing  to  her  having  been  afflicted  with  the  Rheuma¬ 
tism,  a  difeafe  which  was  brought  on  her  by  the 
alternate  heat  and  cold  to  which  {lie  had  expofed 
hevfelf,  by  following  the  bufkiefs  of  a  waiher  woman 
for  many  years.  She  had  had  feveral  attacks  of  the 
intermitting  fever,  and  of  the  Pieurify  in  the  courfe 
of  her  life,  and  was  much  afflicted  with  the  Head-ache 
after  her  menfes  ceafed.  She  had  been  frequently 
bled  while  afflicted  with  the  above  difeafcs.  Her  diet 
was  fimple,  confifting  chiefly  of  weak  tea,  milk,  cheefe, 
butter  and  vegetables.  Meat  of  all  kinds,  except  veal, 
difagreed  with  her  ftomach.  She  found  great  benefit 
from  frequently  changing  her  aliment.  Her  drinks 
were  water,  cyder  and  water,  molafies  and  vinegar  in 


CONSTITUTION  OF  ANN  WOODS.  303 

Water.  She  had  never  ufed  fpirits.  Her  memory 
was  but  little  impaired.  She  was  cheerful  and  thank¬ 
ful  that  her  condition  in  life  was  happier  than  hund¬ 
reds  of  other  old  people. 

From  the  hiftory  of  this  old  woman’s  conftitution 
and  manner  of  life,  the  following  obfervations  will 
naturally  occur  to  the  reader. 

1.  That  there  is  a  great  latitude  in  the  time  in 
which  the  menfes  ceafe.  It  is  more  common  for 
them  in  their  excentricities,  to  difappear  at  the  ufual 
time,  and  to  return  in  extreme  old  age.  In  the  year 
1795,  I  faw  a  cafe  of  this  kind  in  a  woman  of  feven- 
ty  years  of  age  in  the  Pennfylvania  hofpital. 

2.  There  is  a  great  latitude  in  the  time  in  which 
women  bear  children.  Many  children  are  born  be¬ 
tween  fifty  and  fixty,  but  very  few  I  believe  beyond 

3.  It  appears  from  the  hiftory  that  has  been  given, 
that  acute  and  chronic  difeafes  if  oppofed  by  tempe¬ 
rance  and  fuitable  remedies,  do  not  necefsarily  fhorten 
the  duration  of  human  life. 

4.  That  child-bearing,  and  fuckling  children,  do 
not  materially  afFe£t  health,  or  longevity,  where  their 
effects  are  oppofed  by  temperance  and  moderate  labor. 

5.  That  the  evils  of  life  are  feldom  fo  numerous,  as 
not  to  leave  room  for  thankfulnefs  for  an  exemption 


304  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  LIFE,  &C. 

from  a  great  deal  of  mifery.  This  poor  woman  did 
not  complain  of  her  weaknefs,  pains  or  poverty.  On 
the  contrary,  (he  appeared  thankful  under  all  the 
afflictions  of  her  life.  While  the  indoient  are  com¬ 
manded  by  the  wife  man  to  go  to  the  ant  to  learn 
induftry,  thofe  per  foils  who  abound  with  all  the 
external  means  of  happinefs,  and  at  the  fame  time 
complain  of  the  moral  government  of  our  world,  may 
be  invited  to  fit  down  by  the  fide  of  Ann  Woods,  and 
learn  from  the  example  of  her  gratitude  to  heaven,  for 
a  fmgle  drop  of  divine  gooctnefs,  to  render  unceafmg 
thanks  for  the  ocean  of  blefungs  they  derive  from  the 
fame  foUrce. 


-  & 


Biographical  anecdotes  of  Benjamain  Lay. 


*  i  * 

rpHERE  was  a  time  when  the  name  of  this 
-3-  celebrated  Chriftian  Philofopher,  was  fami¬ 
liar  to  every  man,  woman  and  to  nearly  every  child, 
in  Pennfyl vania. — His  fize,  which  was  not  much 
above  four  feet,  his  drefs,  which  was  always  the  fame, 
con  fitting  of  light-coloured  plain  clothes,  a  white  hat, 
and  half-boots  ; — his  milk  white  beard,  which  hung 
upon  his  bread  ;  and,  above  all,  his  peculiar  princi- 

-  flErj.-'t.- .  , 

pies  and  condu£t,  rendered  him  to  many,  an  obje£i 
of  admiration,  and  to  all,  the  fubjeft  of  converfation. — 

He  was  born  in  England,  and  fpent  the  early 
part  of  his  life  at  fea.  His  firft  fettlement  was  in 
Barbadoes,  as  a  merchant,  where  he'  was  foon  con¬ 
vinced  of  the  iniquity  of  the  flave  trade.  He  bore  an 
open  teftimony  againft  it,  in  all  companies,  by  which 
means  he  rendered  himfelf  fo  unpopular,  that  he  left 
the  ifland  in  difguft,  and  fettled  in  the  then  province 
of  Pennfylvania.  He  fixed  his  home  at  Abington, 
ten  miles  from  Philadelphia,  from  whence  he  made 

frequent  excursions  to  the  city,  and  to  different  parts  of 

# 

the  country. — 

At  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  Pennfylvania,  he  found 
many  of  his  brethren,  the  people  called  Quakers, 

had  fallen  fo  far  from  their  original  principles,  as  to 

R  r 


30 6  BIOGRAPHICAL  ANECDOTES  OF 

*1  > 

keep  negro  flaves.  He  remonftrated  with  them,  both 
publickly  and  privately,  againft  the  pradlice  ;  but, 
frequently  with  fo  much  indifcreet  zeal,  as  to  give 
great  offence.  He  often  diflurbed  their  public  meet¬ 
ings,  by  interrupting  or  oppofing  their  preachers,  for 
which  he  was  once  carried  out  of  a  meeting-houfe,  by 
two  or  three  friends. — Upon  this  occafion  he  fubmit- 
ted  with  patience  to  what  he  confidered  a  fpecies  of 
perfecution. — He  lay  down  at  the  door  of  the  meeting- 
houfe,  in  a  fhower  of  rain,  till  divine  worfhip  was 
ended ;  nor  could  he  be  prevailed  upon  to  rife,  till 
the  whole  congregation  had  ftepped  over  him  in  their 
way  to  their  refpwftive  homes.' — 

To  (hew  his  indignation  againft  the  praftice  of 
flave-keeping,  he  once  carried  a  bladder  filled  with 
blood  into  a  meeting  ;  and,  in  the  prefence  of  the 
whole  congregation,  thruft  a  fword,  which  he  had  con¬ 
cealed  under  his  coat,  into  the  bladder,  exclaiming, 
at  the  fame  time,  “  Thus  fhall  God  flied  the  blood 
<c  of  thofe  perfons  who  enflave  their  fellow  crea- 
ic  tures.”  The  terror  of  this  extravagant  and  unex¬ 
pended  aft,  produced  fwoonings  in  feveral  of  the 

women  of  the  congregation. — 

•  •  ^  • 

He  once  went  into  the  houfe  of  a  friend  in  Phila¬ 
delphia,  and  found  him  feated  at  breakfaft,  with  his 
family  around  him.  Being  afked  by  him  to  fit  down 

A 

and  breakfaft  with  them,  he  faid,  <€  Deft  thou  keep 
flaves  in  thy  houfe?”  Upon  being  anfwered  in  the 


EENJAMIN  LAY.  307 

*  *‘l 

affirmative,  he  faid,  «  Then  I  will  not  partake  with 
«  thee,  of  the  fruits  of  thy  unrighteoufnefs.” 

He  took  great  pains  to  convince  a  farmer  and  his 
wife,  in  Chefter  county,  of  the  iniquity  of  keeping 
negro  flaves,  but  to  no  purpofe.  They  not  only  kept 
their  flaves,  but  defended  the  praCtice.  One  day  he 
went  into  their  houfe,  and  after  a  fliort  difcourfe 
with  them  upon  the  wickednefs,  and  particularly  the 
inhumanity  of  feparating  children  from  their  parents, 
which  was  involved  in  the  Have  trade,  he  feized  the 
only  child  of  the  family,  (a  little  girl  about  three  years 
old)  and  pretended  to  run  away  with  her. — The 
child  cried  bitterly,  «  1  will  be  good, — I  will  be  good,” 
and  the  parents  fhewed  figns  of  being  alarmed. 
Upon  obferving  this  fcene,  Mr.  Lay  faid,  very  em¬ 
phatically, — “  You  fee,  and  feel  now  a  little  of  the 
“  diftrefs  you  occafion  every  day,  *by  the  inhuman 
“  practice  of  flave-keeping.” 

This  Angular  philofopher  did  not  limit  his  pious 
teftimony  againft  vice,  to  flave-keeping  alone.  He 
was  oppofed  to  every  fpecies  of  extravagance.  Upon 
the  introduction  of  tea,  as  an  article  of  diet,  into 
Pennfylvania,  his  wife  bought  a  fmall  quantity  of  it, 
with  a  fett  of  cups  and  faucers,  and  brought  them 
home  with  her.  Mr.  Lay  took  them  from  her,  brought 
them  back  again  to  the  city,  and  from  the  balcony  of 
the  court-houfe  fcattered  the  tea,  and  broke  the  cups 
and  faucers,  in  the  prefence  of  many  hundred  fpeCta- 
tors,  delivering,  at  the  fame  time,  a  ftriking  ledturc 


3°S 


BIOGRAPHICAL  anecdotes  of 


upon  the  folly  of  preferring  that  foreign  herb,  with 
its  expenfive  appurtenances,  to  the  fimple  and  whole - 
fome  diet  of  our  country. 


He.  poflefied  a  good  deal  of  wit,  and  was  quick  at 
rapartee.  A  citizen  of  Philadelphia,  who  knew  his 
peculiarities,  once  met  him  in  a  croud,  at  a  funeral, 
in  Germantown.  Being  defirous  of  entering  into  a 
converfation  with  him  that  fhould  divert  the  company, 
the  citizen  accofted  him,  with  the  mofb  refpeftful 
ceremony,  and  declared  himfelf  to  be  “  his  moft 
humble  fervant.”  “  Art  thou  my  fervant.”  faid  Mr. 
Lay, — u  Yes — -I  am”  faid  the  citizen.  “  Then,  faid 
Mr.  Lay,  (holding  up  his  foot  towards  him,)  clean 
this  fhoe”. — This  unexpected  reply  turned  the  laugh 
upon  the  citizen.  Being  defirous  of  recovering  him¬ 
felf  in  the  opinion  of  the  company,  he  a  Iked  him  to 
inftruft  him  in  the  way  to  heaven.  “  D'oft  thou  in- 
“  deed  wifh  to  be  taught/'  faid  Mr.  Lay.  “  I  do/’ 


laid  the  citizen.  “  Then/' faid  Mr.  Lay,  u'  Dojuftice 
a  — >ove  mercy,  and  walk  humbly  with  thy  God.” 

He  wrote  a  final!  treatife  upon  hegro-flavery,  which 
he  brought  to  Dr.  Franklin  to  be  printed.  Upon  look¬ 


ing  over  it,  the  Defter  told  him  that  it  was  not  paged, 
and  that  there  appeared  to  be  no  order  or  arrange¬ 
ment  in  it.  “It  is  no  matter  laid  Mr.  Lay — print 
«  any  part  thou  pleafeft  firft/’ — This  book  contained 
many  pious  fentiments,  and  ftrong  exprefTions  againft 
negro-flavery  j  but  even  the  addrefs  and  fkill  of  Dr, 


BENJAMIN  LAY.  ,309 

Franklin  were  not  fufficient  to  connect  its  different 
parts  together,  fo  as  to  render  it  an  agreeable  or  ufe- 
ful  work.  This  book  is  in  the  library  of  the  city  of 
Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Lay  was  extremely  attentive  to  young  people. 
He  took  great  plealure  in  vifiting  fchools,  where  he 
often  preached  to  the  youth.  He  frequently  carried 
a  baficet  of  religious  books  with  him,  and  diftributed 
them  as  prizes,  among  the  fchclars. 

He  was  fond  of  reading.  In  the  print  of  him,  which 
is  to  be  feen  in  many  houfes  in  Philadelphia,  he  is 
reprefented  with  “  Tryon  on  happinefs”  in  his  hand, 
a  book  which  he  valued  very  much,  and  which  he 
frequently  carried  with  him,  in  his  excurfions  from 
home. 

He  was  kind  and  charitable  to  the  poor,  but  had  no 
compaffion  for  beggars.  He  ufed  to  fay,  “  there  was 
“  no  man  or  woman,  who  was  able  to  go  abroad 
“  to  beg,  that  was  not  able  to  earn  four  pence  a 
“  day,  and  this  fum,  he  faid,  was  enough  to  keep 
“  any  perfon  above  want,  or  dependence,  in  this 
“  country.” 

He  was  afevereenemy  to  idlenefs,  infomuch  that 
when  he  could  not  employ  himfelf  out  of  doors,  or 
when  he  was  tired  of  reading,  he  ufed  to  fpend  his 
time  in  fpinning.  His.  common  fitting  room  was 
hung  with  fkains  of  thread,  fpun  entirely  by  himfelf. 
All  his  clothes  were  of  his  own  manufactory. 


3to 


BIOGRAFHICAL  ANECDOTES  OP 


He  was  extremely  temperate  in  his  diet*  living 
chiefly  upon  vegetables. — Turnips  boiled,  and  after¬ 
wards  roafted,  were  his  favourite  dinner.  His  drink 
was  pure  water.  From  a  defire  of  imitating  our  Sa¬ 
viour,  in  every  thing,  he  once  attempted  to  faft  for 
forty  days.  This  experiment,  it  is  faid,  had  nearly 
coft  him  his  life.  He  was  obliged  to  dcfifl  from 
it,  long  before  the  forty  days  were  expired ;  but  the 
falling,  it  was  faid,  fo  much  debilitated  his  body, 
as  to  accelerate  his  death.  He  lived  above  eighty 
years,  and  died  in  his  own  houfe  in  Abington,  about 
thirty  years  ago. 

In  reviewing  the  hiftory  of  this  extraordinary  man, 
we  cannot  help  abfolving  him  of  his  weakneffes,  when 
we  contemplate  his  many  adtive  virtues.  He  was  the 
pioneer  of  that  war,  which  has  fince  been  carried  on, 
fo  fuccefsfuily,  againft  the  commerce  and  flavery  of 
the  negroes.— Perhaps  the  turbulence  and  feverity  of  his 
temper  were  necefiary  to  roufe  the  torpor  of  the  human 
mind,  at  the  period  in  which  he  lived,  to  this  intereft- 
jng  fubject.  The  meeknefs  and  geutlenefs  of  An¬ 
thony  Benezet,  who  completed  what  Mr.  Lay  began, 
would  probably  have  been  as  infufficient  for  the  work 
performed  by  Mr.  Lay,  as  the  humble  piety  -of  De 
Renty,  or  of  Thomas  A  Kempis,  would  have  been  to 
have  accomplifhed  the  works  of  the  zealous  Luther,  or 
the  intrepid  Knox  in  the  fixteenth  century. 

The  fuccefs  of  Mr.  Lay,  in  fowing  the  feeds  of  a 
principle  which  bids  fair  to  produce  a  revolution  m 


BENJAMIN  LAY. 


311 


morals — commerce — and  government,  In  the  new 
and  in  the  old  world,  fhould  teach  the  benefactors  of 
mankind  not  to  defpair,  if  they  do  not  fee  the  fruits 
of  their  benevolent  propofitions,  or  undertakings, 
during  their  lives. — No  one  feed  of  truth  or  virtue 
ever  perifhed. — Wherever  it  may  be  fowed,  or  even 
fcattered,  it  will  preferve  and  carry  with  it  the  princi¬ 
ple  oflife. — Some  of  thefe  feeds  produce  their  fruits  In 
a  ihort  time,  but  the  moll  valuable  of  them,  like  the 
venerable  oak — are  centuries  in  growing  *,  but  they 
are  unlike  the  pride  of  the  forefts,  as  well  as  all  other 
vegetable  productions,  in  being  incapable  of  a  decay. 

Thev  exift  and  bloom  for  ever. 

Feburary  ioth.  1790. 

*  m\  jigg— wwwi-wr 

Biographical  anfxdotes  of  Akthony  Bene.zet. 


r  HIS  excellent  man  was  placed  by  his 
JL  friends  in  early  life  in  a  counting  houfe, 
but  finding  commerce  opened  temptations  to  a  world¬ 
ly  fpirit,  he  left  his  mailer,  and  bound  himfelf  as  an 
apprentice  to  a  cooper.  Finding  this  bufinefs  too 
laborious  for  his  conilitution,  he  declined  it,  and  de¬ 
voted  himfelf  to  fchool-keeping  ;  in  which  ufeful  em¬ 
ployment,  he  continued  during  the  greatefl:  part  of 
his  life. 

•  Hepofleffed  uncommon  aCtivity  and  induilry  in  eve¬ 
rything  he  undertook.  He  did  everything  as  if  the 


312  BIOGRAPHICAL  ANECDOTES  OF 

words  of  his  Saviour  were  perpetually  founding  in  his 
ears,  “  wifi  ye  not,  that  I  muft  be  about  my  Father’s 
“  bufinefs  ?” 

\ 

He  ufed  to  fay,  cc  the  highefl  a£l  of  charity  in  the 
world  was  to  bear  with  the  utireafonablenejs  of  man¬ 
kind.” 

« 

He  generally  wore  plufh  clothes,  and  gave  as  a 
reafon  for  it,  that  after  he  had  worn  them  for  two 
or  three  years,  they  made  comfortable  and  decent  gar¬ 
ments  for  the  poor. 

He  once  informed  a  young  friend^  that  his  memory 
began  to  fail  him;  “  but  this,”  faid  he,  c*'  gives  me 
“  one  great  advantage  over  thee — for  thou  canft  find 
“  entertainment  in  reading  a  good  book  only  once — but 
“  I  enjoy  that  pleafure  as  often  as  I  read  it ;  for  it 
c<  is  always  new  to  me.” 

He  publifhed  feveral  valuable  trails  in  favor  of  the 
emancipation  of  the  blacks,  and  of  the  civilizing  and 
chriftianizing  the  Indians.  He  alfo  publifhed  a  pamphlet 
againft  the  ufe  of  ardent  fpirits.  All  tliefe  publica¬ 
tions  were  circulated  with  great  inauftry,  and  at  his 
own  expenfe,  throughout  every  part  of  the  United 
States. 

Ide  wrote  letters  to  the  queen  of  Great- Britain,  and 
to  the  queen  of  Portugal  to  ufe  their  influence  with 
their  refpeclive  courts  to  abolifh  the  African  trade. 
He  accompanied  his  letter  to  the  queen  of  Great-Eri- 


ANTHONY  BENEZET. 


3*3 

tain  V/ith  a  prefent  of  his  works.  The  queen  received 
them  with  great  politenefs,  and  faid  after  reading  them 
u  that  the  author  appeared  to  be  a  very  good  man.’* 

He  alfo  wrote  a  letter  to  the  king  of  Pruflu,  in 
which  he  endeavoured  to  convince  him  of  the  un- 
lawfulnefs  of  war. 

During  the  time  the  Britifh  army  was  in  pofiefiion 
of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  he  was  indefatigable  in  his 
endeavours  to  render  the  fituation  of  the  perfons  who 
fuffered  from  captivity  as  eafy  as  poflible.  He  knew  no 
fear  in  the  prefence  of  his  fellow  men,  however  dig¬ 
nified  they  were  by  titles  or  ftation,  and  fuch  were 
the  propriety  and  gentienefs  of  his  manners  in  his 
intercourfe  with  the  gentlemen  who  commanded  the 
Britifh  and  German  troops,  that  when  he  could  not 
obtain  the  objects  of  his  requefts,  he  never  failed  to  fe* 
cure  their  civilities,  and  frequently  their  efteem. 

So  great  was  his  fympathy  with  every  thing  that 
was  capable  of  ieeling  pain,  that  he  refolved  towards 
the  clofe  of  his  life,  to  eat  no  animal  food.  Upon  com¬ 
ing  into  his  brother’s  houfe  one  day,  when  his  family 
was  dining  upon  poultry,  he  was  aiked  by  his  brother’s 
wife,  to  fit  down  and  dine  with  them.  “  What! 
(faid  he)  would  you  have  me  eat  fny  neighbours  ? 

This  mifappiicatiop  of  a  moral  feeling,  was  fup- 
pofed  to  have  brought  on  fuch  a  debility  in  his  ftomach 
and  bowels,  as  produced  a  difeafe  in  thofe  parts  of 
which  he  finady  died. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  ANECDOTES,  &C. 


314 


Few  men,  fince  the  days  of  the  apeftles,  ever  lived 
a  more  difintereflcd  life.  And  yet,  upon  his  death 

bed,  he  faid,  he  wifhed  to  live  a  little  longer,  that 

* 

(<  he  might  bring  down  seli.” 

The  laft  time  he  ever  walked  acrofs  his  room,  was 
to  take  from  his  defk  fix  dollars,  which  he  gave  to 
a  poor  widow  whom  he  had  long  affifted  to  main¬ 
tain. 

He  bequeathed  after  the  death  of  his  widow,  a  houfe 
and  lot  in  which  confifted  his  whole  eftate,  to  the 
fupport  of  a  fchool  for  the  education  of  negro  chil¬ 
dren,  which  he  had  founded  and  taught  for  feveral 
years  before  his  death. 

He  died  in  May  1784,  in  the  71ft.  year  of  his  age. 

H  is  funeral  was  attended  by  perfons  of  all  reli¬ 
gious  denominations,  and  by  many  hundred  black 

Colonel  J — n,  who  had  ferved  in  the  American 
army,  during  the  late  war,  in  returning  from  the  fune¬ 
ral,  pronounced  an  eulogium  upon  him.  It  confifted 
only  of  the  following  words  :  "  1  would  rather,”  faid 
he,  “  be  Anthony  Benezet  in  that  coffin,  than  George 
Wafhington  with  all  his  fame.” 

July  15,  1788. 


PARADISE  OF  NECRO-SLAYES. — A  DREAM. 


SOON  after  reading  Mr.  Clarkfon’s  ingeni¬ 
ous  and  pathetic  effay  on  the  flavery  and 
commerce  of  the  human  fpccies,  the  fubjedt  made 
fo  deep  an  impreflion  upon  my  mind,  that  it  follow¬ 
ed  me  in  my  flecp,  and  produced  a  dream  of  fo  ex¬ 
traordinary  a  nature,  that  I  have  yielded  to  the  im¬ 
portunities  of  fome  of  my  friends,  by  communicating 
it  to  the  public.  I  thought  I  was  conduced  to  a 
country,  which  in  point  of  cultivation  and  feenery, 
far  furpafled  any  thing  I  had  ever  heard,  or  read  of 
in  my  life.  This  country,  I  found,  was  inhabited 
only  by  negroes.  They  appeared  cheerful  and  happy. 
Upon  my  approaching  a  beautiful  grove,  where  a 
number  of  them  were  affcmbled  for  religious  purpofes, 
I  perceived  at  once  a  paufe  in  their  exercifcs,  and  an 
appearance  of  general  perturbation.  They  fixed  their 
eyes  upon  me — while  one  of  them,  a  venerable  look¬ 
ing  man,  came  forv/ard,  and  in  the  name  of  the  whole 
^ffembly,  addrefled  me  in  the  following  language. 

“  Excufe  the  panic  which  you  have  fpread  through 
iC  this  peaceful  and  happy  company  :  we  perceive  that 
you  are  a  white  man . — That  colour  which  is  the 
“  emblem  of  innocence  in  every  other  creature  ot 
God,  is  to  us  a  fign  of  guilt  in  man.  The  perfons 
ci  whom  you  fee  here,  were  once  dragged  by  the  men 
f*  of  your  colour  from  their  native  country,  and  con- 


316  paradise  o?  negro  slates, 

l 

u  figned  by  them  to  labour  — punifhmcnt — and  death, 
((  — We  are  here  collected  together,  and  enjoy  an 
<c  ample  compenfation  in  our  prefent  employments 
(t  for  all  the  mifcries  we  endured  on  earth*  We  know 
({  that  we  are  fecured  by  the  Being  whom  we  worihip, 
cc  from  injury  and  oppreflion.  Our  appearance  of 
“  terror,  therefore,  was  entirely  the  fudden  effect  of 
“  habits  which  have  not  yet  been  eradicated  from  our 
“  minds.*' 

»  f 

«  Your  apprehenfions  of  danger  from  the  fight  of 
((  a  white  man,”  faid  I,  (<  are  natural.  But  in  me — - 

“  you  behold  a  friend.  I  have  been  your  advocate — * 

% 

“  and.’* - Here,  he  interrupted  me,  and  faid,  “  Is 

not  your  name - ?”  I  anfwered  in  the  affirmative. 

Upon  this  he  ran  up  and  embraced  me  in  his  arms, 
and  afterwards  conduced  me  into  the  mid  ft  of  the 
aftembly,  where,  after  being  introduced  to  the  prin¬ 
cipal  characters,  I  was  feated  upon  a  bank  Gf  mofs  \ 
and  the  following  account  was  delivered  to  me  by  the 
venerable  perfon  who  fjrft  accofted  me. 

“  The  place  we  now  occupy,  is  called  the  pciradif? 
“  of  negro  faves.  It  is  deftined  to  be  our  place  of 
«  refidence  ’till  the  general  judgement ;  after  which 
c‘  time,  we  expeCt  to  be  admitted  into  higher  and 
<c  more  perfect  degrees  of  happinefs.  Here  we  derive 
<{  great  pieafure  from  contemplating  the  infinite  good- 
“  nefs  of  God,  in  allotting  to  us  our  full  proportion  of 
mifery  on  earth  ;  by  which  means  we  have  efcaped 
(c  the  puniffiments,  to  which  the  free  and  happy  part  pf 

'  *  ‘  *  r  fc  * 


A  DREAM. 


3*7 

(i  mankind  too  often  expofe  themfelves  after  death. 
“  Here  we  have  learned  to  thank  God,  for  all  the  afflic- 
“  tions  our  tafk-mafters  heaped  on  us  ;  inafmuch,  as 

<c  tliey  were  the  means  of  our  prefent  happinefs. 

% 

“  Pain  tmd  diftrefs  are  the  unavoidable  portions  of  all 
“  mankind.  They  are  the  only  poflible  avenues  that 
ff  can  conduct  them  to  peace  and  felicity.  Happy 
“  are  they,  who  partake  of  their  proportion  of  both  up- 
(C  on  the  earth.' ”  Here  he  ended. — 

After  a  filence  of  a  few  minutes,  a  young  man, 
who  bore  on  his  head  the  mark  of  a  wound,  came  up 
to  me.  and  a  Iked  “  If  I  knew  any  thing  of  Mr. — — , 

((  of  the  Ifiand  of - ”  I  told  him  “  I  did  not.” 

— “  Mr. - ,”  faid  he,  “  was  my  mafter.  One 

“  day,  I  miftook  his  orders,  and  faddled  his  mare  in- 
t(  Head  of  his  horfe,  which  provoked  him  fo  much, 
“  that  he  took  up  an  axe  which  laid  in  his  yard,  and 
<<  with  a  ftroke  on  my  head,  difmiiled  me  from  life. 

“  I  long  to  hear,  whether  he  has  repented  of  this 
“  unkind  action.  Do,  fir,  write  to  him,  and  tell 

him,  his  fin  is  not  too  great  to  be  forgiven,  tell  him, 
“  his  once  miferable  Have,  Scipio,  is  not  angry  at  him 
“  — he  longs  to  bear  his  prayers  to  the  offended  ma- 
“  jefty  of  heaven — and — when  he  dies — Scipio  will 
Cf  apply  to  be  one  of  the  convoy,  that  fhall  conduct  his 
“  fpirit  to  the  regions  of  blifs  appointed  for  thofe  who 
“  repent  of  their  iniquities.” 

Before  I  could  reply  to  this  fpeech,  an  old  man 
came  and  fat  down  by  my  fide.  His  wool  was  white 


'3*8  PARADISE  OF  NEGRO  SLAVES, 

i  f 

as  fnow.  With  a  low,  but  gentle  voice,  he  thus 

i 

acklrefled  me. 

✓ 

“  Sir,  I  was  the  Have  of  Mr.  - ,  in  the  ifland 

“  of— I  ferved  him  faithfully  upwards  of  fixty  years. 

u  No  rifmg  fun  ever  caught  me  in  my  cabin — no 

u  fetting  fun  ever  faw  me  out  of  the  fugar  field, 

(c  except  on  fundays  and  holydays.  My  whole  fubfift- 

€t  ence  never  coft  my  mafter  more  than  forty  fhil- 

“  lings  a  year.  Herrings  and  roots  were  my  only  food. 

4{  One  day,  in  the  eightieth  year  of  my  age,  the  over- 

feer  faw  me  flop  to  reft  myfelf  again  ft  the  fide  of 

u  a  tree,  where  I  was  at  work.  He  came  up  to 

me,  and  beat  me,  ’till  he  could  endure  the  fatigue 

u  and  heat  occafioned  by  the  blows  he  gave  me, 

€i  no  longer.  Nor  was  this  all — he  complained  of 

“  me  to  my  mafter,  who  inftantly  fet  me  up  at  public 

€(  vendue,  and  fold  me  for  two  guineas  to  a  tavern- 

u  keeper,  in  a  diftant  parifh.  The  diftrefs  I  felt,  in 

leaving  my  children,  and  grand  children  (28  of  whom 

u  I  left  on  my  old  mafter’s  plantation)  foon  put  an  end 

to  my  existence,  and  landed  me  upon  thefe  happy 

u  fhores.  I  have  now  no  wifli  to  gratify  but  one — and 

that  is  to  be  permitted  to  vifit  my  old  mafter’s  family. 

I  long  to  tell  my  mafter,  that  his  wealth  cannot  make 

*  him  happy. — That  the  fufferings  of  a  fingle  hour  in 

the  world  of  rnifery,  for  which  he  is  preparing  him- 

felfj  will  overbalance  all  the  pleafures  he  ever  enjoy - 

ed  in  his  life — and  that  for  every -a£t  ef  unnecehary 
'  1 
ci  feverity  he  infiifts  upon  his  haves,  he  fhall  fuffer 

«  tenfold  in  the  world  to  come.” 


A  DREAM. 


31* 

He  had  hardly  finifhed  his  tale,  when  a  decent 
looking  woman  came  forward,  and  addreffed  me  in 
the  following  language. — Sir, 


“  I  was  once  the  Have  of  Mr.  - in  the  flare 

a  of - From  the  healthinefs  of  my  conftituiion,  I 

<€  was  called  upon  to  fuckle  my  Matter’s  eldeft  fon.  To 
<c  enable  me  to  perform  this  office  more  effectually, 
((  my  own  child  was  taken  from  my  breaft,  and  foon 
“  afterwards  died.  My  affections  in  the  firft  emo- 
(c  tions  of  my  grief,  fattened  themfelves  upon  my  in- 
“  fant  matter.  He  thrived  under  my  care  and  grew  up 
“  a  handfome  young  man.  Upon  the  death  of  his 
“  father,  I  became  his  property. — Soon  after  this 

i 

“  event,  he  loft  100L  at  cards.  To  raife  this  money  1 
“  I  was  fold  to  a  planter  in  a  neighbouring  ftate. 
“  I  can  never  forget  the  anguifh,  with  which  my 
ic  aged  father  and  mother  followed  me  to  the  end  of 
“  the  lane,  when  I  left  my  matter’s  houfe,  and  hung 
“  upon  me,  wdien  they  bid  me  farewell.’1 


“  My  new  matter  obliged  me  to  work  in  the  field  ; 
“  the  confequence  of  which  was,  I  caught  a  fever 
((  which  in  a  few  weeks  ended  my  life.  Say,  my 
“  friend,  is  my  firft  young  matter  ftill  alive  ?  — If 
“  he  is — go  to  him,  and  tell  him,  his  unkind 
i(  behaviour  to  me  is  upon  record  again  ft  him.  The 
u  gentle  fpirits  in  heaven,  whofe  happinefs  con  lifts 
iC  in  expreffions  of  gratitude  and  love,  will  have  1.0 
a  fellowfhip  with  him. — His  foul  mutt  be  incited  with 


320  PARADISE  OP  NEGRO  SLAVES,  &  a 

“  pity,  or  he  can  never  efcape  the  punifhment  which 
“  awaits  the  hard-hearted,  equally  with  the  impenitent, 

“  in  the  regions  of  mifery 

• 

As  foon  as  fhe  had  finifhed  her  ftory,  a  middle 
/ged  woman  approached  me,  and  after  a  low  and 
refpedHul  curtfey,  thus  addrefled  me. 

“  Sir  I  was  born  and  educated  in  a  chriftian  family 

u  in  one  of  the  fouthern  dates  of  America.  In  the 

.  *  ^ 

cc  thirty-third  year  of  my  age,  I  applied  to  my  roafler 
“  to  purchafe  my  freedom.  Inftead  of  granting  my 
6C  requeft,  he  conveyed  me  by  force  on  board  of  a  veflel 
<f  and  fold  me  to  a  planter  in  the  ifland  of  Hifpaniola. 

“  Here  it  pleafed  God.” - Upon  pronouncing 

thefe  words,  (lie  paufed,  and  a  general  file  nee  enfued. 
— All  at  once,  the  eyes  of  the  whole  afiembly  were 
turned  from  me,  and  directed  towards  a  little  white 
man  who  advanced  towards  them,  on  the  oppofite  fide 
of  the  grove,  in  which  we  were  feated.  His  face  was 
grave,  placid,  and  full  of  benignity.  In  one  hand  he 
carried  a  fubfeription  paper  and  a  petition — in  the 
other,  he  carried  a  fmall  pamphlet,  on  the  unlawfulnefs 
of  the  African  flave-trade,  and  a  letter  diredled  to 
the  King  of  PruITia,  upon  the  unlawfulnefs  of  war. 
While  I  was  employed  in  contemplating  this  venera- 
rable  figure — fuddenly  I  beheld  the  whole  affembly 
running  to  meet  him — the  air  refounded  with  the 
clapping  of  hands — and  I  awoke  from  my  dream,  by 
the  nolle  of  a  general  acclamation  of — 

ANTHONY  BENEZET! 


An  eulogium  upon  Dr.  William  Cullen,  Professor  or 
the  Practice  of  Physic  in  the  university  of  Edinburgh  j 
delivered  before  the  college  cf  physicians  of  Philadel¬ 
phia,  on  THE  r,  T  H  OF  JULY,  AGREEABLY  TO  THEIR  VOTE  OF 
THE  4TH  OF  MAY,  I79O,  AND  AFTERWARDS  PUBLISHED  AT  THEIR 
R  E  QJU  I»T. 


Mr.  Frefldent  and  Gentlemen, 

Y  your  unanimous  vote,  to  honour  with  an 
Eulogium,  the  charadler  of  the  late  Dr. 
William  Cullen,  ProfefTor  of  medecine  in  the  Uni- 
verfity  of  Edinburgh,  you  have  done  equal  homage  to 
Science  and  Humanity.  This  illuftrious  Phvficiau 
was  the  Preceptor  of  many  of  us  : — He  was  moreover 
a  diftinguifhed  citizen  of  the  republic  of  Medecine, 
and  a  benefadlor  to  Mankind  *,  and  although,  like  the 
fun,  he  (hone  in  a  diftant  hemifphere,  yet  many  of  the 
rays  of  his  knowledge  have  fallen  upon  this  quarter  of 
the  globe.  I  rife,  therefore,  to  mingle  your  grateful 
praifes  of  him,  with  the  numerous  offerings  of  public 
and  private  refpedl  v/hich  have  been  paid  to  his  me¬ 
mory  in  his  native  country.  Happy  will  be  the  effects 
of  fuch  a£ts  of  diftant  fympathy,  if  they  fliould  ferve 
to  unite  the  influence  of  fcience  with  that  of  Com¬ 
merce,  to  leflen  the  prejudices  of  nations  againft 
each  other,  and  thereby  to  prepare  the  way  for  the 
operation  of  that  divine  fyftem  of  morals,  whofc 


3*2 


AN  EULOGIUM  UPON 


prerogative  alone  it  is,  to  teach  mankind  that  they 
are  brethren,  and  to  make  the  name  of  a  fellow- 
creature,  in  every  region  of  the  world,  a  fignal  for 
brotherly  afre&ion. 

In  executing  the  talk  you  have  impofed  upon  me, 

I  fhall  confine  myfelf  to  fuch  parts  of  Dr.  Cullen’s 
character  as  came  within  the  compafs  of  my  own 
knowledge,  during  two  years  refidence  in  Edinburgh. 
— To  his  fellow  citizens  in  Great  Britain,  who  were 
more  intimately  acquainted  with  him,  we  mud  re- 
fign  the  hiftory  of  his  domedic  chara£ter,  as  well  as 
the  detail  of  all  thofe  deps  which,  in  early  life,  led 
him  to  his  unparalleled  height  of  uiefulnefs  and 
fame. 

Dr.  Cullen  pofleffed  a  great  and  original  genius* 

By  genius,  in  the  prefent  indance,  I  mean  a  power 

in  the  human  mind  of  dilcovering  the  relation  of 
,  — 
didant  truths,  by  the  lhorted  train  of  intermediate 

propofitions.  This  precious  gift  of  Heaven,  is  com- 
pofed  of  a  vigorous  imagination,  quick  fallibility,  a 
talent  for  exten five  and  accurate  obfervation,  a  faith¬ 
ful  memory,  and  a  found  judgment.  Thefe  faculties 
were  all  united  in  an  eminent  degree  in  the  mind 
of  Dr.  Cullen.  His  imagination  furveyed  all  nature 
at  a  glance,  and,  like  a  camera  obfeura,  feemed  to 
produce  in  his  mind  a  picture  of  the  whole  vinblc 
creation.  His  fenfibility  was  fo  exquifite,  that  the 
fmalled  portions  of  truth  a£led  upon  it.  By  means 


DR.  WILLIAM  CULLEN.  323 

of  his  talent  for  obfervation  he  collected  knowledge 
from  every  thing  he  heard,  faw,  or  read,  and  from  eve¬ 
ry  perfon  with  whom  he  converfed.  His  memory  was 
the  faithful  repofitory  of  all  his  ideas,  and  appeared 
to  be  alike  accurate  upon  all  fubjeCls.  Over  each 
of  thefe  faculties  of  his  mind  a  found  judgment 
prefided,  by  means  of  which  he  difeovered  the  re¬ 
lation  of  ideas  to  each  other,  and  thereby  produced 
thofe  new  combinations  which  conftitute  principles 
in  fcience.  This  procefs  of  the  mind  has  been 
called  invention,  and  is  totally  different  from  a 
mere  capacity  of  acquiring  learning,  or  collecting 
knowledge  from  the  difeoveries  of  others.  It  elevates 
man  to  a  diftant  refcmblance  of  his  Maker  *,  for  the  dis¬ 
covery  of  truth,  is  the  perception  of  things  as  they 
appear  to  the  Divine  Mind. 

In  contemplating  the  human  faculties,  thus  ex- 
quifitely  formed,  and  exaCtly  balanced,  we  feel  the 
fame  kind  of  pleafure  which  arifes  from  a  view  of 
a  magnificent  palace,  or  an  extenfive  and  variegated 
profpect ;  but  with  this  difference,  that  the  pleafure, 
in  the  firft  inftance,  is  as  much  fuperior  to  that 
which  arifes  from  contemplating  the  latter  objeCts, 
as  the  mind  of  man  is  fuperior,  in  its  importance, 
to  the  mod  finifhed  productions  of  nature  or  of  art. 

Dr.  Cullen  pofTeffed  not  only  the  genius  that 
has  been  deferibed,  but  an  uncommon  fliare  oflear  - 
irig,  reading,  and  knowledge. 


AN  EULOGlUM  UPON 


His  learning  was  of  a  peculiar  and  uieful  kind — 
He  appeared  to  have  cverftepped  the  flow  and  tedious 
forms  of  the  fchools,  and,  by  the  force  of  his  under- 
Handing,  to  have  feized  upon  the  great  ends  of  learning, 
without  the  affiftance  of  many  or  thofe  means  which 
were  contrived  for  the  ufe  of  lets  active  minds.  He 
read  the  ancient  Greek  and  Roman  writers  only  for 
the  fake  of  the  knowledge  which  they  contained,  with 
out  wafting  any  of  the  efforts  of  his  genius  in  attempt¬ 
ing  to  imitate  their  ftyle.  He  was  intimately  acquaint¬ 
ed  with  modern  languages,  and  through  their  means, 
with  the  improvements  of  medicine  in  every  country 
in  Europe*  Such  was  the  facility  with  which  he 
acquired  a  language,  and  fo  great  was  his  enterprife 
in  his  researches  in  medicine,  that  I  once  heard  him 
fpeak  of  learning  the  Arabic  for  the  fake  of  reading 
Avicenna  in  the  original,  as  if  it  were  a  matter  of  as 
little  difficulty  to  him,  as  it  was  to  compofe  a  ledlurc, 
or  to  vifit  a  patient. 


Dr.  Cullen’s  reading  was  extenfive,  but  it  was 
not  confined  wholly  to  medicine.  He  read  books 
upon  all  fuhjedts  j  and  lie  had  a  peculiar  art  of  ex¬ 
tracting  fomething  from  all  of  them  which  he  made 
fublervient  to  his  profeffion.  He  was  well  acquaint¬ 
ed  with  ancient  and  modern  hiftory,  and  delighted 
in  the  poets,  among  whom  Shakefpeare  was  his 
favourite.  The  hiftory  of  our  globs,  as  unfolded  by 

.  i 

books  of  geography  and  travels,  was  fo  familiar  to  him 

that  ftransers  could  not  converfe  with  him,  without 
° 


/ 


i 


DR.  WILLIAM  CULLEN.  325 

fuppofing  that  he  had  not  only  travelled,  but  that  he 
had  lived  every  where.  His  memory  had  no  rubbifh 
in  it.  Like  a  fecretory  organ,  in  the  animal  body,  it 
it  rejected  every  thing  in  reading  that  could  not  be 
applied  to  fome  ufeful  purpofe.  In  this  he  lias  giv¬ 
en  the  world  a  molt  valuable  leffon,  for  the  difference 
between  error  and  ufelefs  truth  is  very  {mail;  and  a 
man  is  no  wifer  for  knowledge  which  he  cannot  apply, 
than  he  is  rich  from  po  fie  fling  wealth,  which  he 
cannot  fpend. 

Dr.  Cullen's  knowledge  was  minute  in  every 
branch  of  medicine.  He  was  an  accurate  anatomift, 
and  an  ingenious  phydologift.  He  enlarged  the  boun¬ 
daries,  and  eftablifhed  the  utility  of  Chemiftry,  and 
thereby  prepared  the  way  for  the  difeovenes  and  fame 
of  his  iiluffrious  pupil  Dr,  Black.  He  fnipped  Mate¬ 
ria  Medica,  of  mod  of  the  errors  that  had  been 
accumulating  in  it  for  two  thoufand  years,  and  reduced 
it  to  a  fimple  and  pradlical  fcience.  He  was  intimate¬ 
ly  acquainted  with  all  the  branches  of  natural  hiftory 
and  philofophy.  He  had  ftudied  every  ancient  and 
modern  fyftem  of  phyfic.  He  found  the  fyftem  of 
Dr.  Boerhave  univerfally  adopted  when  he  accepted  a 
chair  in  the  Univerfity  of  Edinburgh,  This  fyftem 

was  founded  chiefly  on  the  fuppofed  prefence  of  cer- 

•  * 

tain  acrid  particles  in  the  fluids,  and  in  the  departure 
of  thefe,  in  point  of  confiftency,  from  a  natural  date. 
Dr.  Cullen’s  fird  obje£l  was  to  expofe  the  errors  of 
this  pathology  ;  and  to  teach  his  pupils  to  feek  fer 


AN  EULOGIUM  UPON 


326 

the  caufes  of  difeafes  in  the  folids.  Nature  is  always 
coy.  Ever  fince  (he  was  driven  from  the  heart,  by 
the  difcovery  of  the  circulation  of  the  blood,  fhe 
has  concealed  herfelf  in  the  brain  and  nerves.  Here 
fhe  has  been  purfued  by  Dr.  Cullen  •,  and  if  he  has 

•  1 

not  dragged  her  to  public  view,  lie  has  left  us  a  clue 
which  muft  in  time  conduft  us  to  her  laft  recefs  in 
the  human  body.  Many,  however,  of  the  operations 
of  nature  in  the  nervous  fyftem  have  been  explained 
by  him  ;  and  no  candid  man  will  ever  explain  the 
whole  of  them,  without  acknowledging  that  the  foun¬ 
dation  of  his  fucccfsful  inquiries  was  laid  by  the 
difcoveries  of  Dr.  Cullen. 

He  was  intimately  acquainted  with  the  hiflories  and 
diftindlions  of  the  difeafes  of  all  countries,  ages,  fta- 
tions,  occupations,  and  dates  of  fociety.  While  his 
great  objedt  was  to  explode  ulelefs  remedies,  he  took 
pains  to  increafe  the  influence  of  diet,  drefs,  air,  exer- 
cife,  and  the  actions  of  the  mind,  in  medicine.  In  a 
word  he  was  a  great  practical  phyftcian  ;  and  he  has 
left  behind  him  as  many  monuments  of  his  fuccefs  in 
curing  difeafes,  as  he  has  of  accuracy  and  ingenuity 
in  deferibing  their  fymptoms  and  explaining  their 
caufes. 

\  / 

But  his  knowledge  was  not  confined  wholly  to 
thofe  fciences  which  are  intimately  connected  with 
medicine.  His  genius  was  univerfal,  as  to  natural 
and  artificial  fubjects.  He  was  minutely  acquainted 


DR.  WILLIAM  CULLEN. 


3*7 


with  the  principles  and  practices  of  all  the  liberal, 
mechanical,  and  chemical  arts ;  and  tradefmen  were 
often  directed  by  him  to  new  objedls  of  obfervation 
and  improvement  in  their  refpeftive  occupations.  He 
delighted  in  the  fludy  of  agriculture,  and  contributed 
much  to  excite  that  tafle  for  agricultural  fcience, 
which  has  of  late  years  fo  much  diftinguifhed  the  men 
of  genius  and  leifure  in  North-Britain.  I  have  been 
informed,  that  he  yielded  at  lafl  to  that  paflion  for 
rural  improvements,  which  is  common  to  all  men, 
and  amufed  himfelf  in  the  evening  of  his  life  by  cul¬ 
tivating  a  farm  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Edinburgh. 
Happy  would  it  be  for  the  interefls  of  agriculture,  if 
phyficians  in  all  countries,  would  imitate  Dr.  Cullen 
by  an  attachment  to  this  noble  fcience ;  for  their 
previous  ftudies  are  of  fuch  a  nature  as  frequently  to 
enable  them  to  arrive  at  improvements  in  it  without 
experiments,  and  to  apply  the  experiments  of  others, 
in  the  moil  extenfive  and  profitable  manner. 

Dr.  Cullen’s  publications  were  few  in  number 
compared  with  his  difcoveries.  They  confifl  of  his 
Elements  of  phyfiology,  his  Nofologia  Methodica,  his 
Firft  Lines  of  the  Pra£lice  of  Phyfic,  an  Ellay  upon 
the  cold  produced  by  Evaporation,  publifhed  in  the 
fecond  volume  of  the  Phyfical  and  Literary  Eflays  of 
Edinburgh,  a  Letter  to  Lord  Cathcart  upon  the  method 
of  recovering  perfons  fuppofed  to  be  dead  from  drown¬ 
ing,  and  a  fyftem  of  the  Materia  Medica.  Thefe  are 
all  the  works  which  bear  his  name  \  but  the  fruits  of 


328 


AN  EULOGIUM  UFON 


his  inquiries  are  to  be  found  in  moil  of  the  medical 
publications  that  have  appeared  in  Great-Britain  with¬ 
in  the  laft  thirty  years.  Many  of  the  thefes,  publifhed 
in  Edinburgh  during  his  life,  were  the  vehicles  of 
his  opinions  or  practice  in  medicine :  and  few  of 
them  contained  an  important  orufeful  difeovery,  which 
was  not  derived  from  hints  thrown  out  in  his  ledtures. 

As  a  Teacher  of  medicine,  Dr.  Cullen  pofieiTcd 
many  peculiar  talents.  He  mingled  the  moft  agreea¬ 
ble  eloquence  with  the  moft  profound  difquifitions. 
He  appeared  to  lighten  upon  every  fubjeci  upon  which 
he  fpoke.  His  language  was  fimple,  and  his  arrange¬ 
ment  methodical,  by  which  means  he  was  always 
intelligible.  From  the  moment  he  afeended  his  chair. 

O  „  1  ► 

he  commanded  the  moft  refpedlful  attention  from  his 
pupils,  mfomuch  that  I  never  faw  one  of  them  difeo- 
ver  a  fign  of  impatience  during  the  time  of  any  of 
his  ledlures. 

•  •  4  « 

S  »  , 

In  the  inveftigation  of  truth,  he  fometimes  ventured 
into  the  regions  of  conjedlure.  His  imagination  was 

%’1  K 

an  hot  bed  of  hypothefes,  which  led  him  to  conftant 
obfervation  and  experiment.  Tnefe  often  proved  the 
feeds  of  fu'ofequent  difeoveries.  It  was  thus  Sir  Tfaac 
Newton  founded  an  empire  in  faience ;  for  moft 
of  his  difeoveries  were  the  refult  of  preconceived 
hypothefes.  In  delivering  new  opinions,  Dr.  Cullen 
preferved  the  ftricteft  integrity.  I  have  known  him 

I  * 

more  than  once,  refute  the  opnions  which  he  had  taught 
the  preceding  year,  even  before  the  fallacy  of  them  had 


DR.  WILLIAM  CULLEN. 


3*9 


been  fufpected  by  any  of  ais  pupils.  Such  inftances  of 
candor  often  pafs  with  the  vulgar  for  inflability  ;  but 
they  are  the  trueft  characterises  of  a  great  mind. 
To  be  unchangeable,  fuppofes  perpetual  error,  or  a  per¬ 
ception  of  truth  without  the  ufe  of  reafon  ;  but  this 
fublime  a£t  of  intuition  belongs  only  to  the  Deity. 

There  was  no  tindture  of  credulity  in  the  mind 
of  Dr.  Cullen.  He  taught  his  pupils  the  necefiity  of 
acquiring  “  the  flow  confenting  academic  doubt.” 
I  mention  thefe  wrords  of  the  poet  with  peculiar  plea- 
fure,  as  I  find  them  in  my  notes  of  one  of  his  lec¬ 
tures,  in  which  he  lias  delivered  rules  for  judging 
of  the  truth  of  things  related  as  fadls;  for  he  frequent¬ 
ly  remarked  that  there  were  ten  falfe  fadts  (  if  the  ex- 
preflion  can  be  allowed)  to  one  falfe  opinion  in  medicine. 
His  Materia  Medica  abounds  with  proofs  of  the  truth 
of  this  part  of  his  character.  With  how  much  caution 
does  he  admit  the  efficacy  of  medicines,  as  related  in 
books,  or  as  fuggefted  by  his  owui  experience.  Who 
could  have  expected  to  have  found  fo  much  modefty  in 
the  writings  of  a  phyfician  in  the  77th  year  of  his 
age  ?  But  let  it  he  remembered,  tnat  this  phyfician 
was  Dr.  Cullen  $  and  that  he  alwrays  preferred  utility 
to  novelty,  and  loved  truth,  more  than  fame. 

He  took  great  pains  to  deliver  his  pupils  from 
the  undue  influence  which  antiquity  and  great  names 
are  apt  to  have  upon  the  human  mind.  He  dc- 


333 


AN  EULOGIUM  UPON 


ftroyed  the  fuperftitious  veneration  which  had  beeit 
paid  for  many  ages  to  the  names  of  Hippocrates, 
Galen,  and  other  ancient  authors,  and  infpired  his 
pupils  with  a  juft  eftimate  of  the  writings  of  modern 
phyficians.  His  conftant  aim  was  to  produce  in 
their  minds  a  change  from  a  paffive  to  an  adtive 
date  ;  and  to  force  upon  them  fuch  habits  of  think¬ 
ing  and  obfervation,  as  fhould  enable  them  to  inftruct 
themfelve*. 

As  he  admitted  no  truth  without  examination, 
fo  he  fubmitted  to  no  cuftom  in  propagating  it  that 
was  not  reafonable.  He  had  a  principal  {hare  in  the 
merit  of  delivering  medicine  from  the  fetters  of  the 
Latin,  and  introducing  the  Englifh  language,  as  the 
vehicle  of  public  inftrudtion  in  the  univerfity  of 
Edinburgh.  Much  of  the  fuccefs  of  the  revolution 
he  efrtdfed  in  medicine,  I  believe,  may  be  aferibed 

\  j  * 

to  this  circumftance.  Perhaps  the  many  improvements 
which  have  lately  been  made  in  medicine,  in  the  Britifh 
dominions,  may  likewife  be  aferibed  to  the  prefent 
fafhionable  cuftom  of  communicating  medical  know¬ 
ledge  in  the  Englifh  language.  Ey  this  means,  our 
fcience  has  excited  the  notice  and  inquiries  of  in¬ 
genious  and  obferving  men  in  all  profeffions,  and  there¬ 
by  a  kind  of  galaxy  has  been  created  in  the  hemifphere 

of  medicine.  By  afiuming  an  Englifh  drefs,  it  has 

* 

moreover  been  prepared  more  eafily  to  afiociate  with 
other  fciences  *,  from  each  of  which  it  has  received 
aiftftance  and  fupport. 


DR.  WILLIAM  CULLEN. 


33r 


In  his  intercourfe  with  his  pupils  Dr.  Cullen  was 
truly  kind  and  affectionate.  Never  have  I  known  a. 
man  who  poffeffed  in  a  higher  degree  thofe  qualities 
which  feize  upon  every  affection  of  the  heart.  He 
knew  the  rare  and  happy  arts,  as  circumflances  requi¬ 
red,  of  being  affable  without  being  fociable  •,  fociable 
without  being  familiar ;  and  familiar,  without  loffng 
a  particle  of  refpeCt.  Such  was  the  intereff  he  took  in 
the  health,  Rudies,  and  future  eftabliihment  of  all  his 
pupils,  that  each  of  them  believed  that  he  poffeffed 
a  pre-eminence  in  his  friendffnip *,  while  the  equal 
diffuffon  cf  his  kind  offices  proved  that  he  was  the 

i 

common  friend  and  father  of  them  all.  Sometimes 
he  would  lay  afide  the  diRance,  without  leffening  the 
dignity  of  the  profeffor,  and  mix  with  . his  pupils  at  his 
table  upon  terms  of  the  moR  endearing  equality. 
Upon  thefe  occafions  his  focial  affections  feemed  to 
have  an  influence  upon  his  mind.  Science,  fentiment, 
and  convivial  humor,  appeared  for  hours  together  to 
Rrive  which  ffiould  predominate  in  his  converfation. 
I  appeal  to  you,  gentlemen,  who  have  fliared  in  the 
pleafure  which  I  have  described,  for  the  juffice  of  the 
picture  which  I  have  drawn  of  him  at  his  hofpitable 
table.  You  will  recolieCt,  with  me,  how  agreeably 
he  accommodated  himfelf  to  our  different  capacities 
and  tempers  \  how  kindly  he  diflipated  our  youthful 
blufhes,  by  inviting  us  to  afk  him  queflions ;  and  how 
much  he  taught  us,  by  his  inquiries,  of  the  nature  of 
the  foil,  climate,  products,  and  difeafes  of  even  our 
own  country. 


332 


AN  EULOGIUM  UPON 

. 


From  the  hiftory  that  has  been  given  of  Dr.  Cullen, 
we  fliall  not  be  furpriled  at  the  reputation  which  he 
gave  to  the  univerfity  of  Edinburgh,  for  upwards  of 
thirty  years.  The  city  of  Edinburgh  during  his  life 
became  the  very  atmofphere  of  medicine.  But  let 
me  not  here  be  unjuft  to  the  merits  of  his  illuftrious 
colleagues*  The  names  of  Whytt,  Rutherford;  the 
Monroes,  Black,  the  Gregories,  Hope,  and  Home, 

I*  -  4  • 

will  alwavs  be  dear  to  the  lovers  of  medical  fcience. 

4 

May  every  healing  plant  bloom  upon  the  graves  of 
thofe  of  them  who  are  departed  !  and  may  thofe  who 
have  furvived  him,  together  with  their  new  aflociate, 
the  learned  and  excellent  Dr.  Duncan,  long  continue 
to  maintain  the  honor  of  that  juftly  celebrated  fchool 
of  medicine  ! 

It  remains  now  that  I  add  a  ftiort  account  of  Dr. 
Cullen’s  conduct  as  a  phyfician  and  a  man. 

In  his  attendance  upon  his  patients,  he  made  their 
health  his  firft  object,  and  thereby  confirmed  a  line 
between  the  mechanical  and  liberal  profefiions  *,  for 
while  wealth  is  purfued  by  the  former,  as  the  end  of 
labour,  it  fhould  be  left  by  the  latter,  to  follow  the 
more  noble  exertions  of  the  mind.  So  gentle  and 
fympathizing  was  Dr.  Cullen’s  manner  in  a  fick 
room,  that  pain  and  diftrefs  feemed  to  be  fuf^endcd  in 

his  prefence.  Elope  followed  his  fcotfteps,  and  death 

*  • 

appeared  frequently  to  drop  his  commiffion  in  a  com¬ 
bat  with  his  fkill.  He  was  compafiionate  and  charita¬ 
ble  to  the  poor ;  and  from  his  pupils,  who  confulted 


DR.  WILLIAM  CULLEN.  333 

him  in  ficknefs,  he  conftantly  refilled  to  receive  any 
pecuniary  fatisfadtion  for  his  fervices. 

In  his  intercourfe  with  the  world  he  exhibited  the 
manners  of  a  well-bred  gentleman.  He  exercifed  up¬ 
on  all  occafions  the  agreeable  art,  in  which  true  po- 
litenefs  is  faid  to  confift,  of  fpeaking  with  civility, 
and  liftening  with  attention  to  every  body.  His  con¬ 
vention  was  at  all  times  animated,  agreeable,  and 
inilrudting.  Fev/  perfons  went  into  his  company 
without  learning  fomething  *,  and  even  a  common 
thought,  by  palling  through  his  mind,  received  an 
impreflion,  which  made  it  ever  afterwards  worthy  of 
being  preferved. 

Fie  was  a  ftridt  ceconomift  of  time.  Fie  fcldoni 
went  out  of  his  houfe  in  his  carriage,  or  a  fedan 
chair,  without  a  book  in  his  hand  ;  and  he  once  told 
me,  that  he  frequently  employed  one  of  his  fons  to 
read  to  him  after  he  went  to  bed,  that  he  might  not 
lofe  that  portion  of  time  which  pafles  between  lying 
down,  and  falling  afleep. 

He  was  remarkably  punctual  to  all  his  profefficnal 
engagements.  He  appeared  to  confider  time  as  a 
Ipecies  of  property,  which  no  man  had  a  right  to 
take  from  another  without  his  confer t. 

It  was  by  means  of  Ins  ceconomy  and  punctuality  In 
the  ufc  of  time,  that  he  accompiilhed  fo  much  in  his 
profeffion.  I  have  read  of  fome  men  who  have  fpent 
more  time  in  their  clofets,  and  of  others  who  have 


334 


AN  EULOGIUM  UPON 


done  more  bufinefs  *,  but  I  have  never  read,  nor  heard 
of  a  man,  who  mingled  morcftudy  and  bufinefs  together. 
He  lived  by  rule,  without  fubjedling  himfelf  to  the 
flaveryof  forms.  He  was  always  employed,  but  never 
in  a  hurry  ;  and  amidft  the  numerous  and  complicated 
avocations  of  ftudy  and  bufinefs,  lie  appeared  to  enjoy 
the  pleafure  of  fociety,  as  if  company  keeping  and  con- 
varfation  wrere  the  only  bufinefs  of  his  life. 

I  {hall  mention  but  one  more  trait  in  the  character 
of  Dr.  Culien,  and  that  is,  that  he  was  diftinguifhed 
by  no  one  Angularity  of  behaviourfrom  other  men.  It  is 
true  he  flood  alone  ;  but  this  Angularity  was  occaAoned, 
not  by  his  quitting  the  fociety  of  his  fellow-men  by 
walking  on  their  left,  or  right  fide*  but  by  his  walking 
before  them.  Eccentricities  in  behaviour  are  the  off- 
fpring  of  a  lively  fancy  only,  but  order  is  infeparably 
connected  with  real  genius.  The  actions  of  the  former 
may  be  compared  to  the  crooked  AaAi  of  did  ant  light¬ 
ning,  while  the  latter  refemhles  in  its  movements  the 
iteady  revolutions  of  the  heavenly  bodies. 

In  reviewing  the  character  which  lias  been  given  of 
Dr.  Cullen,  I  am  forced  to  make  a  fiiort  digreffion, 
while  I  do  homage  to  the  profeflion  of  phyfic  by  a  An¬ 
gle  remark.  So  great  are  the  bleAings  which  mankind 
derive  from  it,  that  if  every  other  argument  failed  to 
prove  the  adminiftration  of  a  providence  in  human 
affairs,  the  profeffion  of  medicine  alone  would  be 
fufficient  for  that  purpofe.  Who  can  think  of  the  ta¬ 
lents,  virtues,  and  fervices  of  Dr.  Cullen,  without  be- 


DR.  WILLIAM  CULLEN. 


33  S 


lleving  that  the  Creator  of  the  world  delights  in  the 
happinefs  of  his  creatures,  and  that  his  tender  mer¬ 
cies  are  over  all  his  works  ! 

For  the  information  of  fuch  of  the  members  of  our 
college  as  have  not  feen  Dr.  Cullen  it  may  not  be 
improper  to  add  the  following  description  of  his  per- 
fon.  He  was  tall,  flender,  and  had  a  (loop  in  his 
fhoulders  ;  his  face  was  long  ;  his  under  lip  protruded 
a  little  beyond  the  upper  ;  his  nofe  was  large,  and 
inclined  to  a  point  downwards  ;  his  eye,  which  was  of 
a  blue  color,  was  penetrating,  but  foft ;  and  over  his 
whole  face  was  diiFufed  an  air  of  mildnefs  and  thought, 
which  was  ftrongly  charaqteriftic  of  the  conftant 
temper  and  operations  of  hi  s  mind. 

It  pleafed  God  to  prolong  his  life  to  a  good  old  age* 

He  lived  near  78  years.  He  lived  to  demonftrate  how 

much  the  duration  of  all  the  faculties  of  the  mind  de- 
#  - 

\ 

pends  upon  their  conftant  exerciie.  I~Ie  lived  to  teach 
his  brethren  by  his  example,  that  the  obligations  to  ac¬ 
quire  and  communicate  knowledge,  fhould  ceafe  only 
with  health  and  life  ;  and  laftly,  he  lived  to  reap  the 
fruits  of  his  labors  in  the  moft  extenfive  fame;  for  not 
only  his  pupils,  and  his  works,  had  conveyed  his  re¬ 
putation  ;  but  canvafs,  paper,  and  clay,  had  borne  e- 
ven  the  image  of  his  perfon  to  every  quarter  of  the 
globe. 

% 

The  public  papers,  as  well  as  private  letters,  inform 
us,  that  he  furvived  his  ufefulnefs  but  a  few  months* 
Fie  refigned  his  profeflorftiip  in  the  autumn  of  1789, 


336 


AN  EULOGitTM  UPON 


on  account  of  bodily  weaknefs,  and  died  in  the  month 
of  January  of  the  prefect  year;  a  year  fatal  to  the  pride 
of  man;  for  this  year  Franklin  and  Howard,  as  well 
as  Cullen,  have  mingled  with  the  duft.  During  the 
interval  between  his  resignation  and  his  death  he  receiv¬ 
ed  the  mod  affectionate  marks  of  public  and  private 
refpect.  The  city  of  Edinburgh  voted  him  their  thanks, 
2nd  prefented  him  with  a  piece  of  plate*  This  inftance 
of  public  gratitude  deferves  our  particular  attention,  as 
it  is  more  common  for  cities  to  treat  their  eminent  li¬ 
terary  characters  with  negleft  during  their  lives,  and 
centuries  afterwards  to  contend  for  the  honor  of  hav- 
ing  given  them  birth.  The  different  medical  focieties 

of  Edinburgh  followed  him  to  his  chamber  with  ad- 

* 

dreffes  full  of  gratitude  and  affection.  In  mentioning 
thefe  fadis,  I  am  led  to  contemplate  the  venerable  fub- 
jedt  of  our  praifes  in  a  Situation  truly  foleran  and  inter 
refting.  How  pregnant  with  inflrudtion  is  the  death¬ 
bed  of  a  phyfician,  who  has  fperat  a  long  life  in  exten- 
five  and  fuccefsful  practice  !  If  the  forrows  we  have 
relieved  are  the  fureft  fupport  in  our  own,  how  great 
mu  ft  have  been  the  confotation  which  Dr.  Cullen  de¬ 
rived,  in  his  laft  hours,  from  a  review  of  his  adtive  and 

ufeful  life !  blow  many  fathers  and  mothers,  hufbands 

* 

and  wives,  brothers  and  filters,  whofe  tears  he  had 
wiped  away  by  averting  the  ftroke  of  death  from  the 
ohjedts  of  their  affections,  mult  have  prefented  them- 
fclves  to  his  imagination,  and  fcothed  his  foul  with 
grateful  prayers  for  his  eternal  welfare !  But  the  retroft. 
pedt  of  the  fervices  he  had  rendered  to  his  fellow-crea- 


DR.  WILLIAM  CULLEN. 


337 


tures,  was  not  confined  to  the  limits  of  his  extenfive 
bufinefs  in  the  city  of  Edinburgh.  While  the  iliuftri- 
ous  a£lions  of  mod  men  may  be  viewed  with  a  naked 
eye,  the  atchievements  of  Dr.  Cullen  in  the  didan:  re¬ 
gions  of  humanity  and  fcience,  can  only  be  perceived 
by  the  help  of  a  telefcope.  Let  us  apply  this  indrument 
to  difcover  his  exploits  of  beneficence  in  every  quarter 
of  the  world.  He  had  filled  the  capitals,  and  mod  of 
the  towns  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  with  eminent 
phyficians.  Many  of  his  pupils  had  arrived  at  the  firft 
honors  in  their  profeflion  in  the  principal  cities  on  the 
continent  of  Europe.  Many  of  them  had  extended  the 
bleffmgs  of  his  improvements  in  the  principles  and  prac¬ 
tice  of  medicine,  to  every  Britifn  fettlement  in  the  Ead 
and  Wed  Indies,  and  to  every  free  date  in  America. 
But  the  fum  of  his  ufefulnefs  did  not  end  here.  He 
had  taught  the  different  profeffors  in  the  Univerfity  of 
Pennfylvania,  the  art  of  teaching  others  the  mod  fuc- 
cefsful  methods  of  curing  difeafes,  and  thereby  he  had 
conveyed  the  benefits  of  his  difcoveries  into  every  part 
of  the  United  States.  How  great  was  the  mafs  of  fuch 
accumulated  beneficence  !  and  how  fublime  mud  have 
been  the  pleafure  which  the  review  of  it  created  in  his 
mind!  Had  it  been  poinble  for  the  merit  of  fuch  exten¬ 
five  and  complicated  fervices  to  mankind  to  have  refcu- 
ed  one  mortal  from  the  grave,  Dr.  Cullen  had  never  di¬ 
ed.  But  the  decree  of  deatli  is  univerfal,  and  even  the 
healing  art,  is  finally  of  no  cffe£t  in  faving  the  lives  of 


333  AN  EULOGIUM  UPON 

thofe  who  have  exercifed  it  with  the  moll  fuccefs  in 

\ 

faving  the  lives  of  others. 

Dr.  Cullen  is  now  no  more.  What  a  blank 
has  been  produced  by  his  death  in  the  great  volume 
of  Science  !  Behold  !  The  genius  of  humanity  weep¬ 
ing  at  his  feet,  while  the  genius  of  medicine  lifts  up 
the  key,  which  fell  from  his  hand  with  his  lad  breath, 
and  with  inexpreflible  concern,  cries  out,  u  to  whom 
{hall  I  give  this  inftrument  ?  Who  now  will  unlock 
for  me  the  treafures  of  univerfal  nature  ?” 

Venerable  Shade,  adieu  !  What  though  thy  Amer¬ 
ican  pupils  were  denied  the  melancholy  pleafure  of 
following  thee  from  thy  Profeflbr’s-chair  to  thy  fick 
Wed,  with  their  effufions  of  gratitude,  and  praife  ! 
What  though  we  did  not  fhare  in  the  grief  of  thy 
funeral  obfequies,  and  though  we  {hall  never  bedew 
with  our  tears  the  fplendid  monument  which  thy 
affe£tionate  and  grateful  Britifh  pupils  have  decreed 
for  thee  in  the  metropolis  of  thy  native  country  ;  yet 
the  remembrance  of  thy  talents  and  virtues,  fhali  be 
preferved  in  each  of  our  bofoms,  and  never  fhail  we 
return  in  triumph  from  beholding  the  efficacy  of 
medicine  in  curing  a  difeafe,  without  feeling  our 
obligations  for  the  inflrudlions  we  have  derived  from 
thee  ! 

I  repeat  it  again,  Dr.  Cullen  is  now  no  more - - 

No  more,  I  mean,  a  pillar  and  ornament  of  an  an¬ 
cient  feat  of  fcience — no  more,  the  delight  and  ad- 


DR.  WILLIAM  CULLEN. 


339 


miration  of  his  pupils — no  more  the  luminary  of 
medicine  to  half  the  glbbe — no  more  the  friend  an^ 
benefactor  of  mankind. - -But  I  would  as  foon  be¬ 

lieve  that  our  folar  fyftem  was  created  only  to 
amufe  and  perifh  like  a  rocket,  as  believe  that  a 
mind  endowed  with  fuch  immenfe  powers  of  aCtion 
and  contemplation  had  ceafed  to  exift.  Reafon  bids 
us  hope  that  he  will  yet  live — And  Revelation  ena¬ 
bles  us  to  fay,  with  certainty  and  confidence,  that 
he  fhall  again  live . — —Fain  would  I  lift  the  curtain 


which  feparates  eternity  from  time,  and  inquire - - 

But  it  is  not  for  mortals  to  pry  into  the  fecrets  of 
the  invifible  world. 


Such  was  the  man  whofe  memory  we  have  en¬ 
deavoured  to  celebrate.  He  lived  for  our  benefit.  It 
remains  only  that  we  improve  the  event  of  his  death 
in  fuch  a  manner,  that  he  may  die  for  our  benefit 
likewife.  For  this  purpofe  I  fhall  finifh  ourEulogium 
with  the  following  obfervations. 

I.  Let  us  learn  from  the  character  of  Dr.  Cullen 
duly  to  eflimate  our  profeflion.  While  Aftronomy 
claims  a  Newton,  and  EleCtricity  a  Franklin,  Medi¬ 
cine  has  been  equally  honoured  by  having  employ¬ 
ed  the  genius  of  a  Cullen.  Whenever  therefore  we 
feel  ourfelves  difpofed  to  relax  in  our  ftudies,  to  ufe 
our  profeflion  for  felfifh  purpofes,  or  to  neglect  the 
poor,  let  us  recolleCt  how  much  we  leflen  the  dignity 
which  Dr.  Cullen  has  conferred  upon  our  profeflion. 


34°  an  eulogium  upon  •  '  /  . 

f 

II.  By  the  death  of  Dr.  Cullen  the  republic  of 
medicine  has  loft  one  of  its  moft  diftinguifhed  and 
ufeful  members.  It  is  incumbent  upon  us  therefore 
to  double  our  diligence  in  order  to  iupply  the  lofs 
of  our  indefatigable  fellow-citizen.  That  phyfician 

A 

has  lived  to  little  purpofe,  who  does  not  leave  his 
profeffion  in  a  more  improved  ftate  than  he  found 
it.  Let  us  remember,  that  our  obligations  to  add 
fomething  to  the  capital  of  medical  knowledge,  are 
equally  binding  with  our  obligations  to  prailife 
the  virtues  of  integrity  and  humanity  in  our 
intercourfe  with  our  patients.  Let  no  ufeful  fait 
therefore,  however  inconfiderable  it  may  appear,  be 
kept  back  from  the  public  eye  •,  for  there  are  mites 
in  fcience  as  well  as  in  charity,  and  the  remote 
confequences  of  both  are  often  alike  important  and 
beneficial.  Fails  aic  the  morality  of  medicine* 
They  are  the  fame  in  all  ages  and  in  all  countries. 
They  have  preferved  the  works  of  the  immortal  Sy¬ 
denham  from  being  deftroyed  by  their  mixture  with 
his  abfurd  theories  *,  and  under  all  the  revolutions  in 
fyftems  that  will  probably  take  place  hereafter,  the 
fails  which  are  contained  in  Dr.  Cullen’s  works,  will 
conftitute  the  beft  fecurity  for  their  fafe  and  grateful 
reception  by  future  ages. 

V 

III.  Human  nature  is  ever  prone  to  extremes. 
While  we  celebrate  the  praifes  of  Dr.  Cullen,  let  us 
take  care  left  we  check  a  fpirit  of  free  inquiry,  by  too 


DR.  WILLIAM  CULLEN. 


great  a  regard  for  his  authority  in  medicine.  I  well 
remember  an  obfervation  fuited  to  our  prefent  purpofe 
which  he  delivered  in  his  introduction  to  a  courfe  of 
lectures  on  the  Inditutesof  Medicine  in  the  year  1 766. 
After  fpeaking  of  the  long  continued  and  extenfive 
empire  of  Galen  in  the  fchools  of  phyfic,  he  faid,  ci  It 
cc  is  a  great  difadvantage  to  any  fcience  to  have  been 
(i  improved  by  a  great  man.  His  authority  impofea 
“  indolence,  timidity,  or  idolatry  upon  all  who  come 
“  after  him.” — Let  us  avoid  thefe  evils  in  our  venera¬ 
tion  for  Dr.  Cullen.  To  believe  in  great  men,  is  often 
as  great  anobftacle  to  the  progrefs  of  knowledge,  as 
to  believe  in  witches  and  conjurers.  It  is  the  image 
worfhip  of  fcience  *,  for  error  is  as  much  an  attribute 
of  man,  as  the  defire  of  happinefs  >  and  I  think  1  have 
obferved,  that  the  errors  of  great  men  partake  of  the 
dimenfions  of  their  minds,  and  are  often  of  a  greater 
magnitude  than  the  errors  of  men  of  inferior  under- 
ftanding.  Dr.  Brown  has  proved  the  imperfection  of 
human  genius,  by  extending  feme  parts  of  Dr.  Cullen’s 
fydem  of  phyfic,  and  by  correcting  fome  of  its  defects. 
But  he  has  left  much  to  be  done  by  his  fucceflbrs.  lie 
lias  even  bequeathed  to  them  the  labor  of  removing 
the  errors  he  has  introduced  into  medicine  by  his  ne¬ 
glect  of  ail  important  principle  in  the  animal  cecono- 
my,  and  by  his  ignorance  of  the  hiftories  and  fymp- 
toms  of  difeafes.  Perhaps  no  fydem  of  medicine  can 
be  perfect,  while  there  exids  a  (ingle  difeafe  which  we 
do  not  know,  or  cannot  cure.  If  this  be  true,  then  a 


342 


AN  EULOGIUM  UPON 


complete  fyftem  of  medicine  cannot  be  formed,  till 
America  has  furnifhed  defcriptions  and  cures  of  all 
her  peculiar  difeafes.  The  United  States  have  improv¬ 
ed  the  fcience  of  civil  government.  The  freedom  of 
our  conftitutions,  by  imparting  vigor  and  indepen¬ 
dence  to  the  mind,  is  favourable  to  bold  and  original 
thinking  upon  all  fubjedis.  Let  us  avail  ourfelves 
therefore  of  this  political  aid  to  our  relearches,  and 
endeavour  to  obtain  hiftories  and  cures  of  all  our  dif¬ 
eafes,  that  we  may  thereby  contribute  our  part  to¬ 
wards  the  formation  of  a  complete  fyftem  of  medicine. 
As  a  religion  of  fome  kind  is  abfolutely  neceflary  to 
promote  morals*,  fo  fyftems  of  medicine  of  fome  kind, 
are  equally  neceiTary  to  produce  a  regular  mode  of 
practice.  They  are  not  only  neceflary,  but'unavoida- 
ble  in  medicine;  for  no  phyfician,  nay  more,  no  empire, 

practices  without  them. 

-  ; 

The  prefent  is  an  age  of  great  improvement.  While 
the  application  of  reafon  to  the  fciences  of  government 

v  >  i 

and  religion,  is  daily  meliorating  the  condition  of  man¬ 
kind,  it  is  agreeable  to  obferve  the  influence  of  medi¬ 
cine,  in  leiTening  human  mifery,  by  abating  the  mor¬ 
tality  or  violence  of  many  difeafes.  The  decrees  of 
leaven  appear  to  be  fulfilling  by  natural  means;  and 
if  no  ancient  prophecies  had  declared  it,  the  late  nu¬ 
merous  difeoveries  in  medicine  would  authorize  us  to 
fay,  that  the  time  is  approaching,  when  not  only  ty¬ 
ranny,  difeord  and  fuperftition  fhall  ceafe  from  our 
v/orld,  but  when  difeafes  fhall  be  unknown,  or  ceafe 


DR.  WILLIAM  CULLEN. 


343 


to  be  incurable;  and  when  old  age  fhall  be  the  only 
outlet  of  human  life, 

Ci  Thus  heavenward  all  things  tend.” 

In  that  glorious  sera,  every  difeovery  in  medicine  fliall 
meet  with  its  full  reward;  and  the  more  abundant  gra¬ 
titude  of  pofterity  to  the  name  of  Dr.  Cullen;  (hall 
then  bury  in  oblivion  the  feeble  attempt  of  this  day  to 
comply  with  your  vote  to  perpetuate  his  fame. 


An-eulogium  upon  David  Rittenhouce,  late  President  of 
the  American  Philosophical  Society;  delivered  be¬ 
fore  THE  SOCIETY  IN  THE  FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  IN 

High-street,  Philadelphia,  on  the  17TH  December, 
1796,  agreeably  to  appointment,  and  published  at  the 

RIQJUEST  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 


Gentlemen  of  the  Philofophical  Society. 

Friends  and  Colleagues , 

E  are  affembled  this  day  upon  a  mournful, 
occafion.  Death  has  made  an  inroad 
upon  our  Society.  Our  illuftrious  and  beloved  Pre-i 
sident,  is  no  more.  Rittenhousk,  the  ingenious, 
the  modeft  and  the  wife — Rittenhouse,  the  friend 

of  God  and  man,  is  now  no  more! - For  this, 

the  temple  of  Science  is  hung  in  mourning — for  this, 


our  eyes  now  drop  a  tributary  tear.  Nor  do  we  weep 
alone. — The  United  States  of  America  fympathize  in 
oar  grief,  for  his  name  gave  a  fplendor  to  the  American 
character,  and  the  friends  of  humanity  in  diitant  parts 


344 


AN  EULOGIUM  UPON 


of  the  world,  unite  with  us  in  lamenting  our  common- 
lofs — for  he  belonged  to  the  whole  human  race. 


By  your  vote  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  this  great 
and  good  man,  you  have  made  a  laudable  attempt  to 
refcue  philofophers  from  their  humble  rank  in  the 
hiftory  of  mankind.  It  is  to  them  we  owe  our  know¬ 
ledge  and  pofleffion  of  mod  of  the  necefiaries  and 
conveniences  of  life.  To  procure  thefe  bleflings  for 
us,  “  they  trim  their  midnight  lamp,  and  hang  o’er 
the  fickly  taper.”  For  us,  they  traverfe  didant  regions, 
expofe  themfelves  to  the  inclemencies  of  the  weather, 
mingle  with  favages  and  beads  of  prey,  and  in  fome 
indances,  evince  their  love  of  fcience  and  humanity 
by  the  facrjfice  of  their  lives. 


The  amiable  philofopher  whofe  talents  and  virtues 
are  to  be  the  fubjefh  of  the  following  eulogium,  is 
entitled  to  an  uncommon  portion  of  cur  gratitude  and 
praife.  He  acquired  his  knowledge  at  the  expen fe  of 
uncommon  exertions,  he  performed  fervices  of  uncom¬ 
mon  difficulty,  and  finally  he  impaired  his  health,  and 
probably  fhortened  his  life,  by  the  ardor  of  his  dudies 
and  labors  for  the  benefit  of  mankind. 


In  attempting  to  difeharge  the  difficult  and  painful 
duty  you  have  afhgned  to  me,  it  will  be  necefiary  to 
give  a  fnort  account  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Rittenhoufe, 
inafmu'ch  as  feveral  cf  the  mod  intereding  parts  of  hi* 
character  are  intimately  connected  with  it. 


DAVID  RITTENHOUSE, 


34? 


The  village  of  Germantown  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  this  city,  had  the  honor  of  giving  birth  to  this  dif- 
tinguifhed  philofopher  on  the  8th  day  of  April,  in  the 
year  1732.  His  anceftors  migrated  from  Holland 
about  the  beginning  of  the  prefent  century.  They 
were  diflinguifhed,  together  with  his  parents,  for 
probity,  induftry,  and  fimple  manners.  It  is  from 
fources  thus  pure  and  retired,  that  thofe  talents  and 
virtues  have  been  chiefly  derived,  which  have  in  all 
ages  enlightened  the  world.  They  prove  by  their  hum¬ 
ble  origin,  that  the  Supreme  Being  has  not  furrendered 
up  the  direction  of  human  affairs  to  the  advantages 
acquired  by  accident  or  vice,  and  they  bear  a  conftant 
and  faithful  teftimony  of  his  impartial  goodnefs,  by 
their  neceflary  and  regular  influence  in  equalizing  the 
condition  of  mankind.  This  is  the  divine  order  of 
things,  and  every  attempt  to  invert  it,  is  a  weak  and 
unavailing  effort  to  wrefl  the  government  of  the  world 
from  the  hands  of  God. 

The  early  part  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Rittenhoufe  was 
fpent  in  agricultural  employments  under  the  eye  of  his 
father,  in  the  county  of  Montgomery,  twenty  miles 
from  Philadelphia,  to  which  place  he  removed  during 
the  childhood  of  his  Son.  It  was  at  this  place  his 
peculiar  genius  firfl  difcovered  itfelf.  His  plough,  the 
fences,  and  even  the  ftones  of  the  field  in  which  he: 

*\|r 

worked,  were  frequently  marked  with  figures  which 
denoted  a  talent  for  mathematical  {Judies.  Upon 


A N  EULOGIUM  UPON 


346 

finding  that  the  native  delicacy  of  his  conftitution  un¬ 
fitted  him  for  the  labors  of  husbandry,  his  parents 
confented  to  his  learning  the  trade  of  a  clock  and 
mathematical  inftrument  maker*  In  acquiring  the 
knowledge  of  thefe  ufeful  arts,  he  was  his  own  inftruc- 
tor. — They  afforded  him  great  delight,  inafmuch  as 
they  favoured  his  difpofition  to  inquire  into  the  prin¬ 
ciples  of  natural  philofophy. — Conftant  employment  of 
any  kind,  even  in  the  practice  of  the  mechanical  arts, 
has  been  found,  in  many  inftances,  to  adminifter  vigor 
to  human  genius.  Franklin  ftudied  the  laws  of  nature, 
while  he  handled  his  printing  types.  The  father  of 
RoufTeau,  a  jeweller  at  Geneva,  became  acquainted 
with  the  principles  of  national  jurifprudence,  by  liften- 
ing  to  his  foil  while  he  read  to  him  in  his  fhop,  the 
works  of  Grot ius  and  Puffendorfj  and  Herfchel 
conceived  the  great  idea  of  a  new  planet,  while  he 
exercifed  the  humble  office  of  a  mufician  to  a  marching 
regiment. 

1 

It  was  during  the  refidence  of  our  ingenious  philo- 
fopher  with  his  father  in  the  country,  that  he  made 
himfelf  mafter  of  Sir  Ifaac  Newton’s  Principia,  which 
he  read  in  the  Englifh  tranflation  of  Mr.  Mott.  It 
was  here  likewife  he  became  acquainted  with  the  fai¬ 
ence  of  Fluxions,  of  which  fublime  invention  he 
believed  himfelf  for  a  while  to  be  the  author,  nor  did 
he  know  for  fome  years  afterwards,  that  a  conteft  had 
been  carried  on  between  Sir  Ifaac  Newton  and  Leibnitz, 
for  the  honor  of  that  great  and  ufeful  difcovery.  What 


DAVID  RITTENHOUSE. 


347 


a  mind  was  here! - Without  literary  friends 

or  fociety,  and  with  but  two  or  three  books,  he  became, 
before  he  had  reached  his  four  and  twentieth  year,  the 
rival  of  the  two  greateft  mathematicians  in  Europe! 


It  was  in  this  retired  fituation,  and  while  employed 
in  working  at  his  trade,  that  he  planned  and  executed 
an  orrery,  in  which  he  reprefentecl  the  revolutions  of 
the  heavenly  bodies  in  a  manner  more  extenfive  and 
complete,  than  had  been  done  by  any  former  aftrono- 
mers.  A  corredl  defcription  of  this  orrery  drawn  up 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  is  publilhed  in  the  firft  volume 
of  our  Tranfadtions.  This  mafter-piece  of  ingenious 
mechanifm  was  purchafed  by  the  college  of  New-Jerfey. 
A  fecond  was  made  by  him,  after  the  fame  model,  for 
the  ufe  of  the  college  of  Philadelphia.  It  now  forms 
part  of  the  philofophical  apparatus  of  the  Univerfity 
of  Pennfylvania,  where  it  has  for  many  years  com¬ 
manded  the  admiration  of  the  ingenious  and  the 
learned,  from  every  part  of  the  world. 


The  reputation  he  derived  from  the  conftrudtion 
of  this  orrery,  as  well  as  his  general  character  for 
mathematical  knowledge,  attradled  the  notice  of  his 
fellow-citizens  in  Pennfylvania,  and  in  feveral  of  the 
neighbouring  dates,  but  the  difcovery  of  his  uncommon 
merit  belonged  chiefly  to  his  brother-in-law,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Barton,  Dr.  Smith,  and  the  late  Mr.  John  Lukens, 
an  ingenious  mathematician  of  this  city.  Thefe  gen- 

4 

tlemen  fully  appreciated  his  talents,  and  united  in 


345 


AN  EULOGIUM  UPON 


urging  him  to  remove  to  Philadelphia,  in  order  tm 
enlarge  his  opportunities  of  improvement  and  uftfuL 
nefs.  He  yielded  with  reludlance  to  tlnir  advice,  and 
exchanged  his  beloved  retirement  in  the  country  for 
this  city,  in  the  year  1770.  Here  he  continued  for 
feveral  years,  to  follow  his  occupation  of  a  clock  and 

mathematical  inftrument  maker.  He  excelled  in  both 

•  < 

branches  of  that  bufinefs.  His  mathematical  inftru- 

'  .  1  .  • 

‘  •  1  /  • 

ments  have  been  efteemed  by  good  judges  to  be  fupe- 
rior  in  accuracy  and  workmanfhip  to  any  of  the  fame 
kind  that  have  been  imported  from  Europe. 

About  the  time  he  fettled  in  Philadelphia,  he 
became  a  member  of  our  Society.  PTis  firft  commu¬ 
nication  to  the  Society  was  a  calculation  of  the  tranfit 
of  Venus  as  it  was  to  happen  on  the  3d  of  June,  1769, 
in  aoq  north  latitude,  and  5  hours  weft  longitude  from 
Greenwich.  Pie  was  one  of  a  committee  appointed 
by  the  Society  to  obfeveve  in  the  townfhip  of  Norri- 
ton,  this  rare  occurence  in  the  revolution,  of  that 
planet,  and  bore  an  aftive  part  in  the  preparations  which 

^  *  1  •  • 

were  made  for  that  purpofe.  Of  this  Dr.  Smith  who 

v 

was  like  wife  of  the  committee,  has  left  an  honoura- 

r  .  r  -  ... 

bie  reccrd  in  the  hiftory  of  that  event  which  is  pub- 
h filed  in  the  firft  volume  of  the  tranfaeflions  of  our 

.  •  .  A  4  t  w  % 

•Society.  u  As  Mr.  Rittenhcufc’s  dwelling  (fays  the 
Do£lorN  is  about  tycenty  miles  north,  weft  from  Phila- 
delphia  •,  our  other  engagements  did  not  permit  Mr.  Lu¬ 
ke  s  or  myfelf  to  pay  much  attention  to  the  neceftary 

.  »  * 

preparations  j  but  we  knew  that  we  had  intrufted  them 

^  ...  ■  It  .  !  ^  1 


BAV1D  RITTENHOUSE. 


340 


*o  a  gentleman  on  the  fpot  [meaning  Mr.  Rittenhoufe] 
who  had,  joined  to  a  complete  fkill  in  mechanics, 
fo  extenfive  an  aftronomical,  and  mathematical  know¬ 
ledge,  that  the  ufe,  management  and  even  conflruc* 
tion  of  the  apparatus,  were  perfectly  familiar  to  him. 
The  laudable  pains  he  had  taken  in  thefe  material 
articles  will  bell  appear  from  the  work  itfelf,  which 
he  hath  committed  into  my  hands,  with  a  modeft 
introdudtion,  giving  me  a  liberty  with  them,  wrhich 
his  own  accuracy,  tafte  and  abilities  leave  no  room 
to  exercife. 

We  are  naturally  led  here  to  take  a  view  of  our 
philofopher  with  his  afTociates  in  their  preparations 
to  obferve  a  phenomenon  which  had  never  been  feen 
but  twice  before  by  any  inhabitant  of  our  earth, 
which  would  never  be  feen  again  by  any  perfon  then 
living,  and  on  which  depended  very  important  aflro-. 
nomical  confequences.  The  night  before  the  long 
expected  day,  was  probably  pafied  in  a  degree  of 
folicitude  which  precluded  deep.  How  great  mufl: 
have  been  their  joy  when  they  beheld  the  morning 
fun,  “  and  the  whole  horizon  without  a  cloud  for 
fuch  is  the  defcription  of  the  day  given  by  Mr. 
Rittenhoufe  in  the  report  referred  to  by  Dr.  Smith. 
In  penfive  filence,  and  trembling  anxiety,  they  wait¬ 
ed  for  the  predicted  moment  of  cbfcrvaticn ;  it 
came,  and  brought  with  it  all  that  had  been  wifhed 
for  and  expedted  by  thofe  wrho  faw  it.  In  our 
philofoper,  it  excited  in  the  inftant  of  one  of  the 


35® 


IN  ECJLOGIUM  T7PON 


contadls  of  the  planet  with  the  fun,  an  emotion  of 

delight  fo  exquifire  and  powerful,  as  to  induce 

» 

fainting.  This  will  readily  be  believed  by  thofe  who 
have  known  the  extent  of  that  pleafure  which  attends 
the  difcovery,  or  fir  ft  perception  of  truth.  Soon  ’ 
after  this  event,  we  find  him  atfting  as  one  of  a  com¬ 
mittee  appointed  to  obferve  the  tranfit  of  Mercury 
on  the  9th  of  November  in  the  fame  year.  This 
was  likewife  clone  at  Norriton,  An  account  of  it  was 
drawn  up,  and  publifhed  at  the  requeft  of  the  com¬ 
mittee  by  Dr.  Smith.  A  minute  hiftory  of  the  whole 
of  thefe  events,  in  which  Mr.  Rittenhoufe  continued 
to  a£t  a  diftinguifhed  part,  is  given  in  our  tranfa&i- 
ons.  It  was  received  with  great  fatisfaflion  by  the 
aftronomers  of  Europe,  and  contributed  much  tq. 
raife  the  character  of  our  then  infant  country  for 
aftronomical  knowledge. 

In  the  yqar  1775?  he  was  appointed  to  compofc 

and  deliver  the  annual  oration  before  our  fociety. 

The  fubject  of  it,  was  the  hiftory  of  aftronomy.  The 

language  of  this  oration  is  fimple,  but  the  fentiments 

contained  in  it  are  ingenious,  original,  and  in  fome 

inftances  fublime,  It  was  delivered  in  a  feeble  voice, 

and  without  any  of  the  advantages  of  oratory,  but 

it  commanded  notwithftanding,  the  mod  profound 

attention,  and  was  followed  by  univerfal  admiration 
*  * 

and  applaufe  from  a  crouded  and  refpeftable  audience. 

•’  •  •  ^ 

From  the  contents  of  this  oration,  it  appears  that 
Aftronomy  was  the  favourite  objef/t  of  his  ftudies. 


DAVID  RITTENIIOUSE. 


35* 

Attempts  have  been  made  to  depreciate  this  branch 
of  natural  philofophy,  by  denying  its  utility,  and  ap¬ 
plication  to  human  affairs.— The  opinion  is  an  unjuft 
one,  and  as  it  tends  to  convey  a  limited  idea  of  the  ta¬ 
lents  of  Mr.  Rittenhoufe,  I  hope  I  fhall  be  excufed  in 
faying  a  few  words  in  favour  of  this  fcience. 

It  is  to  aftronomy  we  are  indebted  for  our  know¬ 
ledge  of  navigation,  by  which  means  the  different 
parts  of  our  globe  have  been  difcovered,  and  afterwards 
cemented  together  by  the  mutual  wants  and  obligations 
of  commerce. 

It  was  aftronomy  that  tatight  mankind  the  art  of 
predi&ing  and  explaining  eclipfes  of  the  Sun  and  Moon, 
and  thereby  delivered  them  from  the  fuperftition  which 
in  the  early  ages  of  the  world,  was  conne£ied  with 

thofe  phenomena  of  nature. 

( /• 

We  are  taught  by  aftronomy  to  corre£i  our  ideas 
of  the  vifible  heavens,  and  thus  by  ctifcovering  the 
fallacy  of  the  Ample  evidence  of  our  fenfes,  to  call  to 
their  aid,  the  ufe  of  our  reafon,  in  deciding'  upon  all 
material  objects  of  human  knowledge. 

Aftronomy  delivers  the  mind  from  a  groveling 
attachment  to  the  purfuits  and  pleafures  of  this  world. 
“  Take  the  mifer  (fays  our  philofopher  in  his  ora¬ 
tion)  from  the  earth,  if  it  be  pofiible  difengage  him 
— he  whofe  nightly  reft  has  been  long  broken  by  the 
lofs  of  a  fingle  foot  or  it,  ufelefs  perhaps  to  him  ; 
and  remove  him  to  the  planet  Mars,  one  of  the  leaf?: 


352  AN  EULOGIUM  UPON 

diftnnt  from  us — Perfuade  the  ambitious  monarch  td 
accompany  him,  who  has  facrificed  the  lives  of  thou-* 
fands  of  his  fubje&s  to  an  imaginary  property  in  cer-^ 
tain  fmall  portions  of  the  earth,  and  point  out  this 
earth  to  them,  with  all  its  kingdoms  and  wealth,  a 
glittering  ftar,  clofe  by  the  moon,  the  latter  fcarce 
vifible  and  the  former,  lefs  bright  than  our  evening 
ftar. — They  would  turn  away  their  difgufted  fight 
from  it,  not  thinking  it  worth  their  fmallcft  atten¬ 
tion,  and  feek  for  confolation,  in  the  gloomy  regions 
of  Mars.”. 

Once  more-^-the  ftudy  of  aftronomy  has  the  moil 
friendly  influence  upon  morals,  and  religion.  <cYe$,”‘ 
(fays  our  philofopher  in  another  part  of  his  ora¬ 
tion)  “the  direct  tendency  of  this  fcience  is  to  dilate 
the  heart  with  univerfal  benevolence,  and  to  enlarge 
its  views.  It  flatters  no  princely  vice,  nor  national 
depravity.  It  encourages  not  the  libertine  by  relaxing 
any  of  the  precepts  of  morality,  nor  does  it  attempt 
to  undermine  the  foundations  of  religion.  It  cte&ies 
none  of  thole  attributes,  which  the  wifefl  and  beft 
of  mankind  have  in  all  ages  aferibed  to  the  Deity. 
Nor  does  it  degrade  the  human  mind  from  that 
dignity  which  is  ever  neceflary  to  make  it  contemplate 
it [elf  with  complacency.  None  cf  thefe  things  does 
aftronomy  pretend  to,  and  if  thefe  things  merit  the 
name  of  philofophy,  and  the  encouragement  of  a 
people,  then  let  feeptieifm  fiourifh,  and  aftronomy  lie 
negle£icd. — Let  the  names  of  Barkley  and  Hume 


DATID  R1TTENH0USE.  353 

become  immortal,  and  that  of  Newton  be  loft  in  ob¬ 
livion.”— 

The  following  is  a  lift  of  fuch  of  Mr.  Rittenhoufe’s 
other  publications  as  are  contained  in  the  three  vo¬ 
lumes  of  our  tranfa&ions. 

Obfervations  of  the  comet  which  appeared  in  June 
and  July  1770,  with  the  elements  of  its  motion  and 
the  trajectory  of  its  path,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  William 
Smith. 

An  eafy  method  of  deducing  the  true  time  of  the 
fun’s  palling  the  meridian,  by  means  of  a  clock, 
from  a  comparifon  of  four  equal  attitudes,  obferved 
on  two  fucceeding  days,  without  the  help  of  the 
equation  tables,  communicated  by  Dr.  William  Smith. 

An  explanation  of  an  opticle  deception,  namely, 
that  the  furfaces  of  bodies  viewed  through  the  double 
microfcope,  fometimes  appear  to  be  reverfed,  that  is, 
thofe  parts  which  are  elevated  feem  deprefled,  and 
the  contrary. 

An  account  of  a  remarkable  meteor  obferved  at  Phi¬ 
ladelphia  on  the  31ft  of  OCtober,  1775,  with  fome 
conjectures  relative  to  the  theory  of  meteors,  in 
anfwer  to  a  letter  from  John  Page,  Efq.  giving  an 
account  of  the  fame  meteor  feen  in  many  diftant 
places  in  Virginia. 


AN  EULOGICJM  UPON 


354 

Conjectures,  corroborated  by  experiments,  relative 
to  a  new  theory  of  magnetifm  ;  in  a  letter  to  John 
Page,  Efq.  of  Virginia. 

A  new  method  of  placing  a  meridian  mark  for  a 
tranfit  inffrument  within  a  few  feet  of  the  obfervatory, 
fo  as  to  have  all  the  advantages  of  one  placed  at  a  great 
diftance  5  in  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Ewing. 

Obfervations  on  a  comet  difeovered  in  the  month 
of  January  1784. 

An  explanation  of  a  curious  optical  phenomenon, 
namely,  if  a  candle  or  other  luminous  body  be  view¬ 
ed  through  a  filk  umbrella,  handkerchief  or  the  like, 
the  luminous  body  will  appear  to  be  doubled  5  in  & 
letter  to  Francis  Hopkinfon,  Efq. 

A  feries  of  obfervations  made  at  fundry  times  in 
the  years  1784,  85,  and  86  on  the  new  planet,  or 
Georgia  in  Sidus,  alfo  an  obfervation  of  the  tranfit 
of  Mercury  over  the  Sun’s  dilk.  on  the  12th  of  No¬ 
vember  1782. 

An  account  of  three  houfes  in  Philadelphia  flruck 
with  lightning  on  the  7th  of  June  1789. 

An  account  of  the  efFeffs  of  a  ftroke  of  lightning 
upon  a  houfe  furnilhed  with  two  metallic  conductors 
on  the  17th  of  Auguft,  17895  in  a  letter  to  Mr. 
Robert  Patterfon. 


dayid  rittenhouss. 


3SS 


Aftronomical  obfervations  made  at  Philadelphia, 
containing  an  account  of  the  eclipfe  of  the  Moon  on 
the  2d  of  November  1789. 

An  account  of  the  tranfit  of  Mercury  over  thf 
Sun’s  difk,  on  the  5th  of  November  1789.. 

An  account  of  the  eclipfe  of  the  Sun,  on  the  6th. 
of  November  1 790,  with  an  account  of  correfpond- 
ing  obfervations,  made  at  the  univerfity  of  William 
and  Mary,  in  Virginia,  by  Dr.  J.  Madifon,  and  at 
Waihington  college,  in  Maryland,  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Smith. 

Short,  and  elegant  theorems  for  finding  the  fum  of 
the  feveral  powers  of  the  lines,  either  to  a  radius  of 
unity,  or  any  other;  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Robert 
Paterfon. 

An  account  of  a  comet  difeovered  in  the  month 
or  January  1793  >  *n  a  letter  t0  Mr.  Robert  Patterfon. 

Befides  thefe  publications,  our  fociety  is  in  pof- 
fefiion  of  the  following  communications  from  Mr. 
Rittenhoufe,  which  arc  now  in  the  prefs  and  will 
be  fpeedily  publifhed  in  the  fourth  volume  of  our  trans¬ 
actions. 

A  method  of  determining  the  true  plane  of  a  planet 
in  an  eliptical  form  by  converging  feries,  diredtly  from 
the  mean  anomaly. 

A  new  and  eafy  method  of  calculating  logarihims  ; 
-in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Robert  Patterfon. 


IN  EULOGIUM  UPON 


356 

A  defcription  of  an  improvement  on  pendulum 
clocks,  by  which  the  error  arifing  from  the  different 

c  fl, 

dcnfity,  or  refiftance  of  the  medium  in  which  the 
pendulum  vibrates,  is  effectually  obviated. 

y  t  * 

Lafily,  experiments  on  the  expanfion  of  wood  by 
heat. 

*  i 

Talents  fo  fplendid,  and  knowledge  fo  practical  in 
mathematicks,  are  like  mines  of  precious  metals. 

•  V 

They  become  public  property  by  univerfal  confent. 
The  State  of  Pennfylvania  was  not  infenfible  of  the 
wealth  fhe  poffeffed  in  the  mind  of  Mr.  Rittenhcufe. 
She  claimed  him  as  her  own,  and  employed  him  in 
bufinefs  of  the  moil  important  nature. 

*,  •  i  . 

1“ 

In  the  year  1779  he  was  appointed  by  the  legis¬ 
lature  of  Pennfylvania,  one  of  the  commiffioners  for 

adjufting  a  territorial  difpute  between  Pennfylvania 

/ 

and  Virginia,  and  to  his  talents,  moderation  and 
firmnefs,  were  afenbed  in  a  great  degree,  the  fatif- 
faCtory  termination,  of  that  once  alarming  controverfy 
in  the  year  17 85. 

In  178411c  affifled  in  determining  the  length  of 
five  degrees  of  longitude  from  a  point  on  the  Dela¬ 
ware,  in  order  to  fix  the  weftern  limits  of  Penn¬ 
fylvania. 

✓  • 

In  1786,  he  was  employed  infixing  the  northern 
line  which  divides  Pennfylvania  from  New- York. 


BAVID  RITTENH0U3E. 


S  5? 


But  the  application  of  his  talents  and  knowledge 
to  the  fettlement  of  territorial  difputes,  was  not  con¬ 
fined  to  his  native  ftate.  In  the  year  17 69,  he  was 
employed  in  fettling  the  limits  between  New-Jerfey 
and  New- York,  and  in  1787  he  was  called  upon  to 
affift  in  fixing  the  boundary  line  between  the  States 
of  Maffachufetts  and  New- York.  This  laft  bufinefs 
which  was  executed  with  his  ufual  precifion  and 
integrity,  was  his  farewel  peace  offering  to  the  union 
and  happinefs  of  his  country. 


In  his  excurfions  through  the  wildernefs,  he  carried 
with  him  his  habits  of  inquiry  and  obfervation. 
Nothing  in  our  mountains,  foils,  rivers,  and  fprings 

efcaped  his  notice.  It  is  to  be  lamentedjdiat  his  pri- 

»  » 

vate  letters,  and  the  memories  of  his  friends,  are  the 
only  records  of  what  he  collected  upon  thefe  occafi- 
ons.  Phllofopher,  or  naturalift,  whofoever  thou  art ! 
that  flialt  hereafter  traverfe  the  unfrequented  woods 
of  our  ftate,  forget  not  to  refpedt  the  paths,  firft  marked 
by  the  feet  of  this  ingenious,  and  faithful  fervant  of  the 
public.  Honour  the  fountains  confecrated  to  fcience 
by  his  fkilful  hand,  and  inhale  with  double  pleafure 
the  pure  atmofphere  of  the  mountains,  on  which  he 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  the  canopy  of  heaven, 
after  palling  whole  weeks  in  forefts  fo  fhady,  as  to 

•  0 

conceal  from  him  the  rays  of  the  fun.  And  citizens 
of  Pennfylvania,  friends  and  patrons  of  literature,  be 
grateful  for  his  fervices.  Let  the  remembrance  of 
them  be  dear  to  the  prefent  generation,  and  let  a  part 


358 


IN  EULOGIUM  UPON 


of  the  ftate  diftinguifhed  in  a  more  efpecial  manner 
for  its  refources  in  natural  knowledge,  bear  his  name 
with  honor  to  the  lateft  pofterity. 

» 

In  the  year  1791,  he  was  chofen  fucceffor  to  Dr, 
Franklin  in  the  chair  of  our  fociety.  In  this  elevated 
ftation,  the  higheft  that  philofophy  can  confer  in  our 

country,  his  conduct  was  marked  by  its  ufual  line  of 

# 

propriety  and  dignity.  Never  did  the  artificial  pomp 
of  ftation  command  half  the  refpeft,  which  followed 
his  unafluming  manners  in  the  difeharge  of  the  public 
duties  of  this  office.  You  will  often  recollect,  gentle¬ 
men,  with  a  mixture  of  pleafure  and  pain,  the  delight¬ 
ful  evenings  you  palled  in  the  fociety,  every  time 
lie  prefided  in  your  meetings.  They  were  uniformly 
characterized  by  ardor  in  the  purfuits  of  fcience,  ur¬ 
banity  and  brotherly  kindnefs.  His  attachment  to  the 
interefts  of  the  fociety  was  evinced  foon  after  he  accept¬ 
ed  of  the  Prefident’s  chair,  by  a  donation  of  three  hun¬ 
dred  pounds. 

But  his  talents  and  knowledge  were  not  limited  to 
mathematical  or  material  fubjects;  his  mind  was  a 
repofitory  of  the  knowledge  of  all  ages  and  countries. 
He  had  early  and  deeply  fludied  moft  of  the  different 
fyftems  of  theology.  He  was  well  acquainted  with 
practical  metaphyficks.  In  .reading  travels  he  took 
great  delight.  From  them,  he  drew  a  large  fund  of  his 
knowledge  of  the  natural  hiftory  of  our  globe.  He 
poiTeiTed  talents  fer  mufic  and  poetry,  but  the  more 
ferious  and  neceflary  purfuits  cf  his  life,  prevented  his 


DAVID  RITTENHOUSE.  3 5  cjl 

devoting  much  time  to  the  cultivation  of  them.  He 
read  the  Englifh  poets  with  great  pleafure.  The  mufe 
of  Thomfon  charmed  him  moft.  He  admired  his 
elegant  combination  of  philofophy  and  poetry.  How¬ 
ever  oppofed  thefe  ftudies  may  appear,  they  alike  derive 
their  perfection  fromextenfive  and  accurate obfervations 
•  of  the  works  of  nature.  He  was  intimately  acquainted 
with  the  French,  German  and  Dutch  languages,  the 
two  former  of  which  he  acquired  without  the  afiiltance 
of  a  matter.  They  ferved  the  valuable  purpofe  of 
conveying  to  him  the  difcoveries  of  foreign  nations,  and 
thereby  enabled  him  to  profecute  his  ftudies  with  more 
advantage,  in  his  native  language. 

In  fpeaking  of  Mr.  Rittenhoufe,  it  has  been  common 
to  lament  his  want  of  what  is  called  a  liberal  education. 

1 

— -Were  education  what  it  (hould  be,  in  our  public 
feminaries,  this  would  have  been  a  misfortune,  but 
conducted  as  it  is  at  prcfent,  agreeably  to  the  fyftems 
adopted  in  Europe  in  the  fifteenth  century,  I  am  dif- 
pofed  to  believe  that  his  extenfive  knowledge,  and  fplen- 
did  character  are  to  be  afcribed  chiefly  to  his  having 
cfcaped  the  pernicious  influence  of  monkifh  learning  up¬ 
on  his  mind  in  early  life.  Had  the  ufual  forms  of  « 
public  education  in  the  United  States  been  impofcd 
upon  him;  inftead  of  revolving  through  life  in  a  plane¬ 
tary  orbit,  he  would  probably  have  confumed  the  force 
of  his  genius  by  fluttering  around  the  blaze  of  an  even¬ 
ing  taper.  Ritttenhoufe  the  philofopher,  and  one  of  the 
luminaries  of  the  eighteenth  century,  might  have  fpenl 


AN  EULOGIUM  UPON 


3  <5® 

his  hours  of  ftudy  in  compofing  fyllogifms,  or  in  mea- 
furing  the  feet  of  Greek  and  Latin  poetry. 

It  will  be  honorable  to  the  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  to  add,  that  they  were  not  infenfible  of  the  me¬ 
rit  of  our  philofopher.  Inventions  and  improvements 
in  every  art  and  fcience,  were  frequently  fubmitted  to 
his  examination,  and  were  afterwards  patronifed  by  the 
public,  according  as  they  were  approved  of  by  him. 
Wherever  he  went,  he  met  with  public  refpe£t,  and 
private  attentions.  But  his  reputation  was  not  con¬ 
fined  to  his  native  country.  His  name  was  known  and 
admired  in  every  region  of  the  earth,  where  fcience 
and  genius  arc  cultivated  and  refpedfed.* 

Such  were  the  talents  and  knowledge,  and  fuch  the 
fame,  of  our  departed  Prefident  !  His  virtues  now 
demand  our  tribute  of  praife.  —And  here,  I  am  lefs  at  a 
lofs’to  know  what  to  fay,  than  what  to  leave  unfaid. 
We  have  hitherto  beheld  him  as  a  philofopher,  foaring 
like  the  eagle,  until  our  eyes  have  been  dazzled  by  his 
near  approaches  to  the  fun.  W e  fnall  now  contemplate 
him  at  a  lefs  diftance,  and  behold  him  in  the  familiar 
character  of  a  man,  fulfilling  his  various  duties,  in  their 
utmofc  extent.  If  any  thing  has  been  laid  of  his 

*  The  degree  of  matter  of  Arts  was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  College 
of  Philadelphia,  in  1768.  The  fame  degree  was  conferred  upon  him  by 
the  College  of  William  and  Mary,  in  Virginia,  in  1784.  In  the  year 
1709,  he  received  the  degree  of  Doctcr  of  Laws  from  the  College  of 
New-Tcrfe".  He  was  elefted  a  Member  of  the  American  Academy  of 
Arts  and  Sciences  at  Boflon  in  1782,  and  of  the  Royal  Sociecy  in  London 


DAVID  RITTENITOUSE*  .  361 

iajents  and  knowledge  that  has  excited  attention,  or 
kindled  defires  in  the  younger  members  of  our  fociety, 
to  purfue  him  in  his  path  of  honor,  let  me  re  quell  them 
riot  to  forfake  me  here.  Come,  and  learn  by  his  ex¬ 
ample,  to  be  good,  as  well  as  great. - His  virtues 

furnifn  the  moil  firming  models  for  your  imitation  for 

•  ^ 

the  y  were  never  obfeured  in  any  fituation  or  (tage  of 
his  life,  by  a  (ingle  cloud  of  weaknefsor  vice.  As  the 
fou  rcc  of  thefe  virtues,  whether  of  a  public  or  private 
nature,  I  fnall  fir  ft  mention  his  exalted  fenfe  of  moral 
obligation,  founded  upon  the  revelation  of  the  perfec¬ 
tions  of  the  Supreme  Being.  This  appears  from  many 
p adages  in  his  oration,  and  from  his  private  letters  to 
his  friends.  In  his  oration  we  find  the  following  pious 
fentiment.  “  Should  it  pleafe  that  Almighty  (lower 
who  hath  placed  us  in  a  world  in  which  we  are  only 
permitted  4  to  look  about  us  and  to  die/  to  indulge  us 
with  exigence  throughout  that  half  of  eternity  which 
flill  remains  unfpent,  and  to  conduit  us  through  the 
feveral  (l ages  of  his  works,  here  (meaning  in  the  ftudy 
of  allronomy)  is  ample  provifion  made  for  employing 
every  faculty  of  the  mind,  even  allowing  its  powers  to 
be  enlarged  through  an  endlefs  rep  tition  of  ages.  Ler. 
us  not  complain  of  the  vanity  of  this  world,  and  that 
there  is  nothing  in  it  capable  o.  Satisfying  us.  Happy 
in  thofe  wants — happy  in  thofe  defires,  for.vcr  in 
fucceilion  to  be  gratified — happy  in  a  continual  ap¬ 
proach  to  the  Deity.”  ‘‘ 


A  a  a 


3 62  AX  EULOGIUM  UPON 

“  I  muft  confefs  that  I  am  not  one  cf  thofe  fanguine 
fpirits  who  feem  to  think  that  when  the  withered  hand 
of  death  has  drawn  up  the  curtain  of  eternity,  all 
diftance  between  the  creature  and  the  Creator,  and 
between  finite  and  infinite,  will  be  annihilated.  Every 
enlargement  of  our  faculties — every  new  happinefs 
conferred  upon  us,  every  ftep  we  advance  towards  the 
Divinity,  will  very  probably  render  us  more  and  more 
feufible  of  his  inexhauftible  (lores  of  communicable 

*  c  * 

6  -  -  % 

blifs,  and  of  his  inacceffible  perfections.” 

There  appears  to  be  a  natural  connection  between 

*  , 

ft  knowledge  of  the  works  of  nature  and  juft  ideas  of 
the  divine  perfections ;  and  if  phiiofophers  have  not  in 
all  ages  been  equally  devout  with  our  Prefident,  it 
becomes  us  to  acquire  how  far  the  beneficial  influence 
of  philofophy  upon  religion,  may  have  been  prevented 
by  their  minds  being  pre-occupied  in  early  life  with 
the  fiCtions  of  ancient  poets,  and  the  vices  of  the  hea¬ 
then  gods.  It  remains  yet  to  be  determined,  whether 
all  the  moral  as  well  as  natural  attributes  of  the  Deity 
may  not  be  difeovered  in  the  form,  and  oeconomy  of 
the  material  world,  and  whether  that  righteoufnefs 
which  defeended  from  heaven  near  eighteen  hundred 
years  ago,  may  not  wait  for  philofophical  truth  to  fpring 
up  from  the  earth,  in  order  by  uniting  with  it,  to  com¬ 
mand  univerfal  belief  and  obedience.  This  opinion, 
as  far  as  it  relates  to  one  of  the  moral  attributes  of  the 

Deity,  feems  to  have  been  admitted  by  our  philofopher 

* 

in  the  following  elegant  and  pious  extraCl  from  a  letter 


DAVID  RITTENHOUS&. 


363 


to  one  cf  his  friends  <c  give  me  leave  (fays  he)  to  men¬ 
tion  two  or  three  proofs  of  infinite  goodnefs  in  the 
works  of  creation.  The  fir  ft  is,  poflcfling  goodnefs  in 
ourfelves.  Now  it  is  inconfiftent  with  all  juft  reafon- 
ing  to  fuppofe,  that  there  is  any  thing  good  lovely  or 
praife-worthy  in  us,  which  is  not  poflefled  in  an  in¬ 
finitely  higher  degree  by  that  Being  who  firft  called  us 
into  exiitence.  I11  the  next  place  I  reckon  the  exquifite 
and  innocent  delight  that  many  things  around  us  are 
calculated  to  afford  us.  In  this  light  the  beauty  and  frag¬ 
rance  of  a  fingle  rofe  is  a  better  argument  for  divine 
goodnefs  than  a  luxuriant  field  of  wheat.  For  if  we 
can  fuppofe  that  we  were  created  by  a  malevolent  Being 
with  a  dellgn  to  torment  us  for  his  amufement,  he 
mull  have  furnifhed  us  with  the  means  of  fubfiftcnce, 
and  either  have  made  our  condition  tolerable,  or  not 
have  left  the  means  of  quitting  it  at  pleafure,  in  our 
own  power.  Such  being  my  opinions,  you  will  not 
wonder  at  my  fondnefs  for  what  Mr.  Addifon  calls 
‘ the  pleafures  of  the  imagination.’  They  arc  all  to 

me,  fo  many  demonftrations  of  infinite  goodnefs. 

■  ^ 

If  fuch  be  the  pious  fruits  of  an  attentive  examina¬ 
tion  of  the  works  of  the  Creator,  ceafe  ye  minifters 
of  the  gofpel  to  defeat  the  defign  of  your  benevolent 
labors,  by  interpofing  the  common  ftudies  of  the  fchools 
between  our  globe,  and  the  minds  of  young  people. 
Let  their  firft  ideas  be  thofc  which  are  obtruded  upon 
their  fenfes,  by  the  hand  of  nature.  Permit  the  fir¬ 
mament  of  heaven,  and  the  animal,  vegetable  and 


AN  EULOGIUM  UPON 


mineral  produftions  of  the  earth,  to  inftrudt  them  in 
the  wifdom  and  goodnefs  of  the  Creator,  and  let  the 
effects  of  phyfical  evil  upon  general  hippinefs,  vin¬ 
dicate  the  divine  government,  in  permitting  the  exif- 
tence  of  moral  evil  in  our  world.  Thus  the  perverfc 
paflions  of  man,  may  be  made  to  unite  with  {forms 
and  tempefts,  in  furnifliing  proofs  of  the  goodnefs  of 
the  Creator  of  the  umveife. 


But  the  religion  of  Mr.  Rittcnhoufe,  was  not  de¬ 
rived  wholly  from  his  knowledge  and  admiration  of 
the  material  world.  He  believed  in  the  Chriftian 
revelation.  Of  this,  he  gave  many  proofs,  not  only 

in  the  conformity  of  his  life,  to  the  precepts  of  the 

*  4  , 

gofpel,  but  in  his  letters  and  converfation.  I  well 
recoiled!  in  fpeaking  to  me  of  the  truth  and  excel¬ 
lency  of  the  Chriftian  religion,  he  mentioned  as  an 
evidence  of  its  divine  origin,  that  the  miracles  of 
our  Saviour  differed  from  all  other  miracles,  in  being 
entirely  of  a  kind  and  benevolent  nature.  It  is  no 
fmall  triumph  to  the  friends  of  Revelation  to  obferve, 
in  this  age  of  infidelity,  that  our  religion  has  been 
admitted  and  even  defended  by  men  of  the  moft  ex¬ 
alted  underftanding,  and  of  the  ftrongeft  reasoning 
powers.  The  Angle  teftimony  of  David  Rittenhoufe 
in  its  favor,  outweighs  the  declamations  of  whole 
nations  againft  it.* 

*  Since  the  publication  of  the  Eulogium  in  a  pamphlet,  I  have  receiv¬ 
ed  the  following  account  of  Mr.  Rittenhoufe’s  religious  principles,  ip 
a  letter  from  his  widow,  dated  Auguft  zeth  1797.  “  That  you  were 

c*  fjfhcicntiy  authorized  te  affert  wbat  you  did  refpe&ing  Mr.  Kitten- 


DAVID  RITTENH0U3E.  365 

As  the  natural  effect  of  his  belief  in  the  relation  of 
the  whole  human  race  to  each  other  in  a  common 
Father  and  Redeemer,  he  embraced  the  whole  family 
of  mankind  in  the  arms  of  his  benevolence.  The  force 
and  extent  of  this  virtue  in  his  heart,  will  appear  from 
my  reading  one  more  extrait  from  his  oration.  I  am 
aware  how  much  I  fuffer  by  introducing  quotations 
from  that  eloquent  performance,  for  they  will  caft  a 
(hade  upon  all  I  have  faid,  or  (hall  fay  upon  this  occa- 
£  on. 

“  How  far,  (fays  our  philofopher)  the  inhabitants  of 
the  other  pi  mets  may  referable  men,  we  cannot  pretend 
to  fry.  If  like  them  they  were  created  liable  to  fall, 
yet  fome,  if  not  all  of  them  may  ft  ill  retain  their  origi¬ 
nal  re&itude.  We  will  hope  they  do  ;  the  thought  is 
comfortable. — -Ceafe  then  Galhleo  to  improve  thy  op¬ 
tic  tube,  and  thou  great  Newton,  forbear  thy  ardent 
fearch,  into  the  myfteries  of  nature,  left  ye  make  un¬ 
welcome  difcoveries.  Deprive  us  not  of  the  pleafurc 
of  believing  that  yonder  orbs,  traverftng  in  filent  majef- 
ty  the  etherial  regions,  are  the  peaceful  feats  of  innc- 

houfe’s  religious  principles.  I  now  add  my  tefdimony  ’o  what  you 
iC  have  .'ai  1,  for  well  I  know  the  great  trufhs  of  religion  engaged 
“  much  of  his  attention,  an!  indeed  were  interwoven  with  alrnoit  ever)' 
**  imp  >rtanc  concern  of  his  life.  I  rlo  not  recollect  if  in  any  of  the 
conversions  have  had  with  you  I  informed  you,  what  I  now  do, 

4<  rha  ")r.  .'rice’s  opinions  refpe&ing  Chriftianity  were  more  in  Unifon. 
te  with  his  own,  than  any  others  of  fhe  divines,  that  Dr.  Price’s  fer- 
tl  m  >ui  was  the  la.l  book  he  req  e  (ted  me  to  read  to  him,  and  that  the 
laft  n>  ling  of  his  life,  he  reminded  me  that  I  had  not  finifhed  one 
f*  of  the  Doctor's  dlfcourfes  which  lhad  began  the  proceeding  evening. ’* 


IN  EULOGIUM  UPON 


3« 

cence  and  blifs,  where  neither  natural  or  moral  evil 
has  ever  intruded,  and  where  to  enjoy  with  gratitude 
and  adoration  the  Creator’s  bounty,  is  the  bufmefs  of 
cxiftence.  If  their  inhabitants  refcmble  man  in  their 
faculties  and  affections,  let  us  fuppofe  that  they  arc  wife 
enough  to  govern  themfelves  according  to  the  dictates 
of  that  reafon,  God  has  given  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  to 
confult  their  own,  and  each  other’s  happinefs  upon  all 
occafions.  But  if  on  the  contrary,  they  have  found  it 
necefiary  to  erect  artificial  fabrics  of  government,  let  us 
not  fuppofe  they  have  done  it  with  fo  little  fkill,  and  at 
fuch  an  enormous  expenfc,  as  to  render  them  a  misfor¬ 
tune,  inftead  of  a  bleiling. — We  will  hope  that  their 
ftatefmen  are  patriots,  and  that  their  kings  (if  that  order 
of  beings  has  found  admittance  there)  have  the  feelings 
of  humanity.  Happy  people  !  — and  perhaps  more  hap¬ 
py  ftill ,  that  all  communication  with  us  is  denied.  We 
have  neither  corrupted  you  with  our  vices,  nor  in¬ 
jured  you  by  violence.  None  of  your  fens  and  daughters 
have  been  degraded  from  their  native  dignity,  and 
doomed  to  endlefs  flavery  in  America,  merely  becaufe 
their  bodies  may  be  difpofed  to  refleCt,  or  abforb 
the  rays  of  light,  different  from  ours.  Even  you, 
inhabitants  of  the  Moon,  fituated  in  our  very  neigh¬ 
bourhood,  are  effectually  fecured  from  the  rapacious 
hands  of  the  oppreiTors  of  our  globe.  And  the  ut- 
mofi  efforts  of  the  mighty  Frederick,  the  tyrant  of 
the  North,  and  fcourge  of  mankind,  if  aimed  to  dis¬ 
turb  your  peace,  becomes  inconceivably  ridiculous 
and  impotent.” 


DAVID  RITTENH0U3E.  3<*7 

<c  Pardon  thefe  reflections.  They  arife  not  from  * 
the  gloomy  fpirit  of  mifanthrophy.  That  Being,  be¬ 
fore  whofe  piercing  eye  all  the  intricate,  foldings  of 

1  #  • 

the  human  heart,  become  expanded,  and  illuminated, 
is  my  witnefs  with  what  fincerity,  with  what  ardor 
— I  wifh  for  the  happinefs  cf  the  whole  race 
of  mankind. — How  much  I  admire  that  difpofition  of 
lands  and  feas  which  affords  a  communication  between 
diflant  regions,  and  a  mutual  exchange  of  benefits — 
How  fincerely  I  approve  of  thofe  focial  refinements, 
which  add  to,  our  happinefs,  and  induce  us  with 
gratitude  to  acknowledge  our  Creator’s  goodnefs,  and 
how  much  I  delight  in  a  participation  of  the  difeo- 
reries  made  from  time  to  time  in  nature’s  works,  by 
our  philosophical  brethern  in  Europe.  But  (adds  our 
philofopher)  when  I  confider  that  luxury,  and  her 
conftant  follower  tyranny,  which  have  long  fince  laid 

the  glories  of  Afia  in  the  duft,  are  now  advancing 

*<  *  % 

like  a  torrent,  irrefiflible,  and  have  nearly  completed 
their  conqueft  over  Europe — I  am  ready  to  wifk 

- ■ - vain  wifli !  that  nature  would  raife  her  ever- 

lafting  bars  between  the  new  and  the  old  world,  and 
make .  a  voyage  to  Europe  as  impracticable  as  one 
to  the  moon.” 

#  *  • 

✓  •  * 

As  when  a  traveller  in  paffing  through  a  wildernefs, 
lackens  Lis  pace  to  prolong  the  pleafure  of  a  fudden 

»'  -  m\ 

and  unexpected  profpeCt  of  a  majeflic  river  pouring  its 
waters  down  the  declivity  of  a  cloud-cap’t  mountain, 
and  fpreading  fertility  and  verdure  throughout  the  ad¬ 
jacent  vallies,  fo  wc  fed  difpofed  to  paufe,  and  fcafl 


3<SS  '  AN  EULOGltTM  UPON 

I 

■  » 

upon  the  fublime  fentiments  contained  in  the  paffkgc 

1  V 

which  I  have  read.  Citizens  of  the  United  States,  re¬ 
ceive  and  cherish  them  as  a  legacy  from  a  friend,  or 
a  brother.  Be  juft,  and  loofe  the  bands  of  the  African 
(lave.  Be  wife,  and  render  war  odious  in  our  country. 
Be  free,  by  affuming  a  national  character  and  name? 
and  be  greatly  happy,  by  erecting  a  barrier  againft  the 

i 

corruptions  in  morals,  government,  and  religion,  which 
now  pervade  all  the  nations  of  Europe.  * 

But  the  philanthropy  of  Mr.  Rittenhoufe  did  not 
confift  fimply  in  wifhes  for  the  happinefs  of  mankind. 
He  reduced  this  divine  principle  to  pradHce  by  a  feries 

of  faithful  and  difmterefted  fervices  to  that  part  of 

% 

his  fellow  creatures,  to  which  the  ufefulnefs  of  gcod 
men  is  chiefly  confined.  His  country,  his  beloved 
country,  was  the  objeeft  of  the  ftrongeft  afFetftions  of 

f  •  1  •  *  •  .  .•  t 

*  Mr.  William  Barton,  nephew  to  Mr.  Rittenhoufe,  has  favoured 
me  with  the  following  extract  »f  a  letter  in  September,  1755,  fo  his 
brother. in-law,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Barton,  who  was  the  friend  and  corref- 
pondc.nt  of  his  youth,  which  fhews  how  early  and  deeply  the  principles 
of  univerfal  benevolence  were  fixed  in  his  mind. 

<c  \  would  fooner  givC  up  my  interest  in  a  future  rtate,  than  be 
diverted  of  humanity  $ — 1  mean  that  goodwill  I  have  to  the  lpecies, 
although  one  half  of  them  are  faid  to  be  fools,  and  almoft  the  other 
h^f  knaves.  Indeed  I  am  firmly  perfuade^,  that  we  are  not  at  the 
difpofal  of  a  Being  who  has  the  leaft  tincture  of  ill-nature,  or  requires 
any  in  us. — You  will  laugh  at  this  grave  philofophy,  or  my  writing 
to  you  on  a  fubjedt  which  you  have  thought  of  a  thoufahd  times  :  but, 
ran  any  thing  tha"  is  ferious,  be  ridiculous  ? — Shall  we  fuppofc  Gabriel* 
fmiling  at  Newton,  for  labouring  to  demonrtrate  whether  the  earth  be 
»t  rert  or  not,  becaufe  the  former  plainly  fees  it  move  ? 


©AVID  RITTENHOUSE. 


% 


his  heart.  For  her,  he  thought, — for  her,  he  laboured, 
— and  for  her,  in  the  hours  of  her  difficulties  and 
danger,  he  wept, — in  every  ftage  of  the  American 
revolution.  Patriots  of  1775,  you  will  acquit  me  of 
exaggeration  here,  for  you  feel  in  the  recolle&ion  of 
what  pafTed  in  your  own  bofoms,  a  vvitnefs  of  the 
truth  of  each  of  thefe  afTcrtions.  The  year  of  the  de¬ 
claration  of  Independance,  which  changed  our  royal 
governments  into  Republics,  produced  no  change  in 
his  political  principles,  for  he  had  been  educated  a 
Republican  by  his  father.  I  can  never  forget  the 
pleafure  with  which  he  avowed  his  early  but  fecret  at¬ 
tachment  to  an  elective  and  reprefenrative  form 
of  government.  Often  have  I  heard  him  above  twenty 
years,  ago,  predict  the  immenfe  encreafe  of  talents 
and  knowledge  which  has  b^n  produced  by  the  ftrength 
and  a£tivity  that  have  been  infufed  into  the  Ameri¬ 
can  mind,  by  our  republican  conftitutions.  Often, 
likewife,  at  the  fame  remote  period  of  time,  have  I 
heard  him  anticipate  with  delight,  the  effedts  of  our 
revolution  in  fpwing  the  feeds  of  a  new  order  of 

things  in  other  parts  of  the  world.  He  believed  poli- 

« 

tical,  as  well  as  moral  evil  to  be  intruders  into  the 

«  * 

fociety  of  man — that  general  happinefs  was  the  ori¬ 
ginal  defign,  and  ultimate  end  of  the  divine  govern¬ 
ment,  and  that  a  time  would  come,  when  every  part 
of  our  globe,  would  echo  back  the  heavenly  procla¬ 
mation  of  univerfal  peace  on  earth,  and  good  will 
to  man. 

If  1  ,  -r  y 


13  b  b 


37° 


AN  KCLOGIUM  I’POfi 


Let  it  not  he  faid,  fl  t  he  departed  from  the  duties 
of  a  Phiiofopi  ier,  by  devoting  a  part  of  his  time  and 
talents  to  the  fah  ty  and  happinefs  of  his  country.  It 

•  •  *  +  t  *  \  * 

belongs  to  monarchies,  to  limit  the  bufinefs  of  go- 

*  ~  ' 

vernment  to  a  privileged  order  of  men,  and  it  is 

•  *  .  # 

from  the  remains  J  a  monarchical  fpirit  incur  coun¬ 
try,  that  we  complain  when  clergymen,  phyficians, 
philefophers  and  mechanics,  take  an  aftive  part  in 
civil  affairs.  The  obligations  of  patriotifm  are  as  uni- 

%  D  .  i 

•  .  !  *  •  •  *  *  f  '  •  •  *  » 

verfal  and  binding,  as  tliofe  of  juft  ice  and  benevolence, 
and  the  virtuous  propenfities  of  the  human  heart  are 
as  much  refilled  by  every  individual  who  negledls 

t 

the  bufinefs  of  his  country,  as  they  are  by  the  extinction 

of  the  domeftic  affedlions  in  a  cell.  Man  was  made 

*'  #/•  *  *  *  ^  *  *  •«*  » 

•  c  >• 

for  a  republic,  and  a  republic  was  made  for  man,  other- 
wife  Divine  power  and  geednefs  have  been  waited, 
in  the  creation  r*d  gift  of  his  public  affe<flions. — Our 
philofophcr  adopted  this  truth  from  tlie  evidence  of 
his  fee  ings,  in  common  with  the  reft  of  mankind,  but 
it  was  ftrong’y  reinforced  in  his  mind  by  numerous 
analogies  of  nature.  How  was  it  pcftible  for  him  to 
contemplate  Unlit  and  air  as  the  common  and  equal 
portions  of  every  man,  and  not  acknowledge  that 
heaven  Attended  liberty  to  be  diliributed  in  the  lame 
manner  among  the  whole  human  race  \  Or  how  could* 
he  behold  the  beauty  and  harmony  of  the  univerfe,  as 
the  rriult  of  univerfal  and  mutual  dependance,  and  not 
admit  that  heaven  intended  rulers  to  be  dependant  upon 
tliofe,  for  whole  benefit  alone,  all  government  fhouki 


* 


, 


i 


©AVID  RITTENHOUSS. 


37* 


biift.  To  fuppofe  the  contrary,  would  be  to  deny 
unity  and  fyftem  in  the  plans  of  the  great  creator  of  all 
things. . 

I  {hall  make  no  apology  for  thefe  fentiments. 
They  are  not  foreign  to  the  folemnity  ol  this  difcourfe. 
Had  1  faid  lefs  of  the  political  principles  and  conduct 
of  our  enlightened  Prefident,  hundreds  and  thoufands 
of  my  fellow-citizens  would  have  accufed  me,  of  an 
act  of  treachery  to  his  memory.  May  the  time  never 
come,  in  which  the  praifcs  of  our  republican  govern¬ 
ments,  (hall  not  be  acceptable  to  tne  cars  of  an  Ame¬ 
rican  audience  ! 

In  the  more  limited  circles  of  private  life.  Mr 
Rittenhoufe  commanded  efteem  and  affedtion.  As 
a  neighbour  he  was  kind  and  charitable.  His  fym- 
pathy  extended  in  a  certain  degree  to  diftrefs  of  eve¬ 
ry  kind,  but  it  was  excited  with  the  molt  force,  and 
the  kindeft  effects,  to  the  weaknefs,  pain  and  pover¬ 
ty  of  old  age. —  As  a  friend  he  was  firicere,  ardent, 
and  difinterefted.  As  a  companion,  he  inftrucied  up¬ 
on  all  fubjefts.  To  his  happy  communicative  dif- 
pofition,  I  beg  leave  to  exprefs  my  obligations  in  this 
public  manner.  I  can  truly  fay,  after  an  acquain¬ 
tance  with  him  for  nx-and-twenty  years,  that  I  never 
went  into  his  company,  without  learning  fomething. 
With  pleafure  have  I  looked  beyond  my  prefent  ia- 
bors  to  a  time,  when  his  fociety  fliould  cftnltitute 
6ue  of  tiie  principal  enjoyments  of  the  evening  of 


I 


’  1  372  Ali  EULOGIUM  UPON 

I 

my  life. — But  alas  !  that  time,  fo  often  anticipated* 
and  fo  delightful  in  profpe£l — will  never — come 

I  hope  it  will  not  be  thought  that  I  tread  too 
clofely  upon  his  footfteps,  when  I  piefume  to  lift 
the  latch  of  his  door  and  to  exhibit  him  in  the  do- 

1 

medic  relations  of  a  hufband  and  father.  It  was 
the  practice  of  the  philofophers  of  former  ages,  to 
pafs  their  lives  in  their  clofets,  and  to  maintain  a 
formal  and  diftant  intercourfe  with  their  families  *, 
but  our  philofopher  was  a  ftranger  to  pride  and  im- 
podure  in  every  thing.  His  family  condituted  his 
chief  fociety,  and  the  mod  intimate  circle  of  his 
friends.  When  the  declining  date  of  his  health, 
rendered  the  folitude  of  his  dudy,  lcfs  agreeable 

1  \  •  . 

than  in  former  years,  he  paded  whole  evenings  in 
reading  or  converfmg,  with  his  wife  and  daughters. 
Happy  family  !  fo  much  and  fo  long  bleffed  with  fuclt 
a  head  !  and  happier  dill,  to  have  pofiefled  difpofitions 
and  knowledge  to  difeern  and  love  his  exalted  cha¬ 
racter,  and  to  enjoy  his  indructing  converfation  ! — 
Thus  Sir  Thomas  Moore  lived  with  his  accomplifhed 
wife  and  daughters  *, — -Thus  Cicero  educated  his  be¬ 
loved  Tullia ;  and  in  this  way  only,  can  the  female  fex 
be  elevated  to  that  dignity,  and  ufefulnefs  in  fociety, 
for  which  they  were  formed,  and  by  which  from 
their  influence  upon  manners,  a  new  sera  would  bs 
created  in  the  hidory  of  mankind. 

The  houfs  and  manner  cf  living,  of  our  president, 
exhibited  the  tade  of  a  philofopher,  the  fimplicity  of  a 


1 


I 


DAVID  RITTENHOUSJE.  37^} 

republican,  and  tlie  temper  of  a  Chrifiian.  He  was 
independent,  and  contented  with  an  eftate,  fmall  in  the 
eftimation  of  ambition  md  avarice,  but  amply  fu:ted 
to  all  his  wants  and  defires.  He  held  the  office  of 
treafurer  of  Pennfylvania,  by  an  annua  land  unanimous 
vote  of  the  legiflature,  between  the  years  1777,  and 
1789.  During  this  period,  he  declined  purchafing  the 
fmalleft  portion  of  the  public  debt  of  the  ftate,  there¬ 
by  manifefting  a  delicacy  of  integrity,  which  is  known 
and  felt  only  by  pure  arid  elevated  minds. 

In  the  year  1792,  he  was  perfuaded  to  accept  of 
the  office  of  Director  of  the  mint  of  the  United  States. 
His  want  of  health,  obliged  him  to  refign  it  in  1795* 
Here  his  conduct  was  likewife  above  fufpicion,  for  I 
have  been  informed  by  his  colleague  in  office, f  that  in 
feveral  inftances,  he  paid  for  work  done  at  the  mint 
out  of  his  falary,  where  he  thought  the  charges  for 
it  would  be  deemed  extravagant  by  the  United  States. 

His  oeconomy  extended  to  a  wife  and  profitable  ufc 
©f  his  time.  No  man  ever  found  him  unemployed. 

As  an  apology  for  detaining  a  friend  a  few  mi¬ 
nutes,  while  he  arranged  fome  papers  he  had  been 

,  ,  I 

examining,  he  faid,  <(  that  he  had  once  thought  health, 
the  greatefl  bleffing  in  the  world,  but  that  he  now 
thought  there  was  one  thing  of  much  greater  value, 
and  that  was  time.”  The  propriety  of  this  remark 
will  appear  when  we  confider,  that  Providence,  fo  li¬ 
beral  in  other  gifts,  beftows  this,  in  a  fparing  manner. 

t  Dr.  W^y, 

.1  ■  (  ‘  ‘  1 

I 


I 


'  '  ’  * •  :  f 

374  AN  EUL0GIUM  UPON 

•  ‘  > 

.  ■ 

He  never  gives  a  lecond  moment,  until  he  has  with¬ 
drawn  the  firit,  and  (till  referves  the  third  in  his  own 
hand. 


The  countenance  of  Mr.  Rittenhoufe,  was  too  re¬ 
markable  to  be  unnoticed  upon  this  occaiion.  It  dis¬ 
played  fuch  a  mixture  of  contemplation,  benignity,  and 
innocence,  that  it  was  eafy  to  diftinguiih  his  perfon  in 
the  larged:  company,  by  a  previous  knowledge  of  his 
character.  His  manners  were  civil,  and  engaging  to 
iuch  a  degree,  that  he  feldom  pafied  an  hour,  even  in 
a  public  houfe,  in  travelling  through  cur  country  with¬ 
out  being  followed  by  the  good  wifhes  of  ail  who  at¬ 
tended  upon  him.  There  was  no  affectation  of  fingula- 
rity,  in  any  thing  he  faid  or  did:  even  his  hand 

writing,  in  which  this  weaknefs  fo  frequently  difeovers 

•  •  * 

itfelf,  was  fimple  and  intelligible  at  firft  fight,  to  all 
who  faw  rt. 


Here  I  exoected  to  have  finhhed  the  detail  of  his  vir- 
▲ 

tues,  but  in  the  neighbourhood  of  that  galaxy  created 
by  their  connected  ludre,  1  behold  a  virtue  of  ineftim- 
able  value,  twinkling  like  a  rare,  and  folitiry  (tar.  It 
is  his  fuperlative  modefty.  This  heaven  born  virtue 
Was  fo  confpicuous  in  every  part  of  I  is  conduct,  that 

#  •  A 

he  appeared  not  fo  much  to  conceal,  as  to  be  ignorant 
of  his  fuperioriry  as  a  philofopher  and  a  man,  over  the 
gueateft  part  of  his  fellow  creatures. 


In  reviewing  the  intellectual  endowments  and  moral 
excellency  of  Mr.  Rittenhcuie;  and  our  late  ultimate 


PAJfin  RITTENH0US1.  375 

connexion  v/lth  him,  we  are  led  to  rejoice  in  being 
men. 

We  proceed  now  to  the  doling  fcenes  of  his  life. 

His  conftitution  was  naturally  feeble,  but  it  was  ren¬ 
dered  (till  more  fo,  by  fedentary  labor,  and  midnight 

t 

ftudies.  He  was  affli&ed  for  many  years  with  a 
weak  breaft,  which,  upon  unufual  exertions  of  body 
or  mind,  or  fudden  changes  in  the  weather,  became 
the  feat  of  a  painful  and  harrafling  diforder.  This 
conftitutional  infirmity  was  not  without  its  ufes.  It 
contributed  much  to  the  perfection  of  his  virtue,  by 

producing  habitual  patience  and  refignation  to  the 

• 

will  of  heaven,  and  a  conftant  eye  to  the  hour  of 
his  diffolution.  It  was  a  window  through  which  he 
often  looked  with  pleafure  towards  a  place  of  exif- 
tence,  where  from  the  encreafe  and  perfe&ion  of  his 
intuitive  faculties,  he  would  probably  acquire  more 

1*  n  m '  > 

knowledge  in  an  hour,  than  he  had  acquired  in  his 
whole  life,  by  the  flow  operations  of  reafon  ;  and 
where,  from  the  greater  magnitude  and  extent  of  the 
the  objects  of  his  contemplation,  his  native  globe, 
would  appear  like  his  cradle,  and  all  the  events  of 
time,  like  the  amufements  of  his  infant  years. 

Cn  the  26th  of  June,  of  the  prefent  year,  the 
long  expe&ed  mefLnger  of  death,  difclofed  his  com- 
miffion.  In  his  laft  illnefs,  which  was  acute,  and 
fhort,  he  retained  the  ufual  patience  and  benevo¬ 
lence  of  his  temper.  Upon  being  told  that  feme  of 


4 


376  AN  CULOGIUM  UPON 

*’•-  t  '.A  ■ 

his  friends  had  called  at  his  door  to  enquire  how  he 
WdSi  he  afked  why  they  were  not  invited  into  his 
chamber  to  fee  him.  “  Becaufe  (laid  his  wife;  you 
•re  too  weak  to  lpeak  to  them.”  «  Yes  (faid  he) 
Kiat  is  true,  but  I  could  ftiil  have  fqueezed  their 
hands.” —  thus  with  a  heart  cveiflowing  with  love  to 
his  family,  friends,  country,  and  to  the  whole 
world,  he  peacefully  refigned  his  fpirit  into  the 
hands  of  his  God.  Let  the  day  of  his  death  be 
recorded  in  the  annals  of  our  fcciety,  and  let  its 
annual  return  be  marked  by  icme  public  a£i,  which 
fhal!  charadterife  his  fervices  and  cur  grief,  and 
thereby  animate  us  and  our  fucceffors,  to  imitate  his 
ill atlrious  example  I 

It  has  been  the  fafhion  of  late  years,  to  fay  of  per- 

•  f  i 

fons  who  had  been  diftinguifhed  in  life,  when  they 
left  the  world  in  a  (late  of  indifference  to  every  thing, 
and  believing,  and  hoping  in  nothing,  that  they  died 
like  philofophers.  Very  different  was  the  latter  end  of 
©ur  excellent  prefident.  He  died  like  a  chriftian,  in- 
terefted  in  the  welfare  of  all  around  him — believing  in 

the  refurreclion,  and  the  life  to  come,  and  hoping  tor 

•  *  *  *  •  ••  *  f  ? 

happinefs  from  every  attribute  of  the  Deity. 

Agreeably  to  his  requeft,  his  body  was  interred 
in  his  obfervatory  near  his  dwelling  houfe,  in  the 
prefence  of  a  numerous  concourfe  of  his  fellow -citi¬ 
zens.  It  was. natural  for  him  in  the  near  profpedt  of 

appearing  in  the  prefence  of  his  Maker,  to  feel  an 

•  »  *  *  \ 

•  .  / 

I 


DAVJD  RITTENHOUSK. 


377 


attachment  to  that  fpotin  which  he  had  cultivated  a 
knowledge  of  his  perfections,  and  held  communion 
with  him  through  the  medium  of  his  works.  Here¬ 
after  it  (hall  become  one  of  the  objects  of  curiofity 
in  our  city,  Thither  {hall  the  philosophers  of  future 
ages  refort  to  do  homage  to  his  tomb,  and  children  yet 
unborn,  (hall  point  to  the  dome  which  covers  it,  and 
exultingly  fay,  there  lies  our  Rittenhoufe.” 

Let  us  my  refpefbed  colleagues,  repair  for  a  few 
minutes  to  that  awful  fpot. — In  entering  it — we  behold 
the  telefcope,  dear  inflrument  of  his  difeoveries,  turn¬ 
ed  upon  its  axis,  and  pointed  to  the  earth,  which  has 
clofed  its  mailer’s  eyes. — How  artlefs — the  inferipti- 
cn  upon  his  tombftone  ! — It  contains  nothing  but  his 
name,  and  the  fimpie  record  of  the  days  and  years  of 
his  birth  and  death. — Very  different  would  have  been 
the  monument  of  his  worth  arid  fame,  had  not  the 
gratitude  and  affe£lion  of  his  friends  been  controuled 
by  his  dying  requell.  His  head  would  have  reclined 
in  marble,  upon  the  lap  of  religion.  At  his  feet,  fei- 
ence  would  have  fat — bathed  in  tears;  while  the  ge¬ 
nius  of  republican  liberty,  in  the  figure  of  a  venerable 
hermit,  bending  over  his  grave,  would  have  deplored 
the  lofs  of  his  favourite  fon. — Alas  ! — too — too  foon 
has  our  beloved  prefident  been  torn  from  the  chair  of 
our  fociety  !— Too  foon  has  he  laid  afide  his  robes  "of 
office,  and  ceafed  to  miniller  for  us- day  and  night  at 
the  altar  of  fcience  ! — Ah  ! — who  now  will  elevate  his 
telefcope,  and  again  diredl  it  towards  yonder  heavens  ? 

C  €  C 


AN  EULOGIUM,  &C. 


37s 

Who  now  will  obferve  the  tranfit  of  the  planets  r 
Who  now  will  awaken  our  nation  to  view  the  tracklefs 
and  ftupendous  comet  ?  Who  now  will  meafure  the 
courfes  of  our  rivers,  in  order  to  convey  their  ftreams 
into  our  city,  for  the  purpofes  of  health  and  com¬ 
merce  ? - Nature  is  dumb  ; - for  the  voice  of  her 

t 

chief  interpreter  is  hufhed  in  death. — In  this  hour  of 
cur  bereavement,  to  whom  fhall  we  look  ? — but  to 
thee,  father  of  life  and  light: — thou  author  of  great 
and  good  gifts  to  man.  O  !  let  not  thy  Sun,  thy 
Moon,  and  thy  Stars  now  Ihine  unobferved  among  us  ! 
may  the  genius  of  our  departed  prelident,  like  the  man¬ 
tle  of  thy  prophet  of  old,  defcend  upon  fome  member 
of  our  fociety,  who  fhall,  as  he  did,  explain  to  us  the 
myfteries  of  thy  works,  and  lead  us  ftep  by  ftep,  to 
thyself,  the  great  overflowing  fountain  of  wifdom, 
goodnefs  and  mercy,  to  the  children  of  men  ! 


' 


. 


- 


>  ■  - .. 


m>7.  ■  • 


